WHILE THE era of social partnership may have ended, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said trade unions, employers and other groups should continue to have access to the Government and contribute to policy development.
In an address to members of the National Economic and Social Council yesterday he said he saw an important role for social dialogue and civic engagement in helping to broaden and deepen understanding about what needed to be done to generate fresh thinking and new ideas, and to encourage robust debate and the use of evidence to justify policies.
“It may well be the case that formal social partnership agreements are not appropriate to the current circumstances and issues that we face. But that does not mean that the social partners as organised groups do not have a contribution to make: self-evidently, it is important that sectors, organisations and interests of such strategic importance in Irish life should have opportunities to engage in dialogue with the Government and with each other,” Mr Kenny said.
“It is important that such significant parts of civil society should be able to contribute to policy development. It is a resource to public debate and to the Government for those views to be enriched through interaction with representatives of Government departments at the highest levels, and with independent experts who can bring a more detached and a more rigorous approach to discussion.”
The council, which is chaired by the secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach, provides analysis to the Taoiseach on economic and social developments. It comprises representatives of trade unions, employers, farmers and non-governmental organisations as well as senior civil servants. Mr Kenny told members of the council they should consider producing more frequent, shorter and more timely reports.
He said council recommendations need not always be based on a consensus view. “It is very desirable that the council develop a shared analysis of issues and problems. It is perfectly legitimate, however, that people might take different approaches to how best to respond to the problems that have been defined and understood.
“It is better to have reports which reflect some variety of views, rather than self-censorship which excludes consideration of difficult questions.”
