Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

34. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the matters discussed at the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he chaired on 5 October 2016. [30638/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The inaugural meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) on the 5th of October was chaired by An Taoiseach and attended by the sponsoring Ministers of Public Expenditure and Reform, Finance and Jobs Enterprise and Innovation with representatives of employers and trade unions.

The aim of the LEEF is to provide a forum to discuss areas of shared concern affecting the economy, employment and the labour market such as competitiveness, sustainable job creation, labour market standards, equality and gender issues in the workplace.

An economic and fiscal outlook for Budget 2017 presented by Department of Finance formed the centre piece of the discussion at the first meeting, including the latest growth projections and risks such as Brexit. A wide ranging productive discussion and exchange of views ensued covering a range of topics including housing, childcare, international competitiveness, regional development, labour taxation, female participation, third level education and insecure employment.

Following the conclusion of the discussion, it was agreed that the Forum would prove a useful mechanism for ongoing dialogue on challenges facing the country in which all sides had a shared interest and should meet in future on a quarterly basis.