Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would be interested in getting behind the Taoiseach's reply. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, is a venerable institution that goes back to the 1970s. It has performed a very useful support to the Taoiseach and the Government of the day in bringing different perspectives together regarding major economic, social and environmental issues that have been faced from time to time. We certainly face an array of formidable economic, social and environmental issues today. I am interested in hearing the Taoiseach's view on the role of NESC.

Since we were in government together over a difficult period, I know there were people advising the Taoiseach at the time who were opposed to the concept of NESC and would not have been adverse to its abolition. There is an important role for NESC and it is a cause of concern to me that the council, which is the overarching governing body of NESC, has been allowed to lapse without any appointment being made. From last February there was one vacancy but, subsequently, the five-year term expired and there is now no governing council. One does not need to be brilliant to figure out that there is no regard for NESC within the current Government and that it does not see a role for NESC into the future. If it did, it would have appointed a board by now.

I am interested in the Taoiseach's personal view. Does he see a role for NESC in bringing together, as it has done in the past, many of our principal social, economic and societal actors to focus on issues of real importance or is he of the view that was expressed by at least one of his former advisers that this was a sort of throwback to a social dialogue that was no longer relevant or needed today?

See this speech in context