Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, together.

There have been three formal plenary meetings of the parties to the Towards 2016 agreement since its publication in June 2006. The last meeting of that nature was held on 15 February 2008 and no further meeting has been scheduled. There have been a significant number of bilateral meetings with each of the social partnership pillars since then, both directly with myself and my Department and with relevant line Ministers and Departments, including most recently in the context of their budgetary submissions.

There have been initial discussions with each of the social partnership pillars regarding the Europe 2020 process, which involves consultation with national stakeholders in the development of each member state's national reform programme. I envisage further consultations before the final national reform programme is submitted to the Commission next April. Social partner representatives also continue to participate in a variety of Governmental consultative fora and bodies.

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