Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the role of his Department in the negotiations for a possible new partnership agreement, particularly in regard to those areas for which his Department has legislative or administrative responsibility; if he has had discussions with the community or voluntary sector regarding a possible new agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17369/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Social partnership has played an important if not pivotal role in Ireland's dramatic economic and social development since 1987. Through the partnership process, over the past eighteen years or so, we have helped to ensure that the policies of Government and the efforts of the social partners create the right environment for sustainable economic and social development. The prosperity secured in partnership has a purpose — it is to improve the quality of life of our people, including those dependent on social welfare. Ireland needs to put in place the policies and the delivery systems, which will allow us to realise our full potential. Past experience teaches us that is best achieved when there is a reasonable consensus about the choices we face as a country.

Consulting and listening to our customers and their representatives is an integral part of my Department's business and is the key to informing our policy and service delivery approach. As part of this consultative approach I, and representatives from my Department meet on a regular basis with organisations from the Community and Voluntary Pillar. However, my Department has not had discussions with the Community and Voluntary Pillar regarding a possible new agreement outside the formal negotiations on a new National Agreement.

The discussions with all the Social Partners, under the chairmanship of the Department of the Taoiseach, are ongoing and it would not be appropriate for me to comment specifically on the proposals put forward by the Community and Voluntary Pillar at this stage. The outcome of the new social partnership negotiations will provide a positive framework for addressing the issues of poverty and social exclusion in a comprehensive, focused and integrated manner. The implementation of the new Social Partnership Agreement, allied to the achievement of the targets set out in the National Action Plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion will ensure that we will make real and tangible progress towards the achievement of a fair and inclusive society.