Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Perhaps the Deputy did not hear me clearly. I said we were not returning to the social partnership module which previously existed, which was wasteful from the perspective of time and so on. Communication lines between the Government and those previously involved in social partnership, including employers, trade unions and other groups, are open. I explained that to all of them individually and again when we met with the National Economic and Social Forum, NESC.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I met with the Croke Park Implementation Body last June, at which time we pointed out the necessity to implement the conditions of Croke Park as fully and expeditiously as possible in order that the conditions signed on for in respect of the troika could be adhered to. The Tánaiste made his remarks last week in the context of an address to SIPTU. I spoke to him prior to the SIPTU conference and agreed the process of dialogue and communication with those who were previously members of the social partnership. There is nothing mysterious about that. The Tánaiste took the opportunity of addressing the delegates at the SIPTU conference to spell out that the lines of communication would be open to them and others who were previously involved in the social partnership programme, which was good, relevant and opportune. As is required, that communication facility is available to them.

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