Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Howlin asked me if I saw a role for NESC. The answer to that question is "Yes". NESC has always been a very valuable resource for the Taoiseach of the day and for the public at large because of the reports it produced and the discussions and the dialogue that took place. As Deputy Howlin is well aware from his previous experience, NESC was always a way of dealing with social partnership in one form or another. Things have changed and moved on.

The Secretary General is meeting with the NESC members tomorrow to discuss their views on and analysis of what lies ahead and what might be best in that regard. I support that strongly and look forward to hearing the views of the members as to how best we might proceed from here. I see an important role for NESC. Just because there is no NESC at the moment does not mean there is any sleight of opinion from Government on that. I would like to hear the members' view on their role in the future and make a decision to provide for that in the best way possible. The Secretary General will meet the members tomorrow and I will be having discussions with him.

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