Social Partnership Publications
Following the invitation of the Taoiseach on 24th March, the Government and Social Partners have had further engagement within the context of the Framework for a Pact for Stabilisation, Social Solidarity and Economic Renewal agreed in January and the subsequent report of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) which emphasises the importance of an integrated policy approach which addresses all five dimensions of the current crisis.
Agreement with Social Partners on a Framework for Stabilisation, Social Solidarity and Economic Renewal - Wednesday, 28th January 2009
This Summary Progress Report concentrates on key progress from November 2007 to date and was circulated to the Social Partners at the third Plenary meeting on the 15 February 2008
Under Towards 2016, there is a commitment to undertake a review of the agreement in 2008. This review is currently underway and the Fourth Progress Report was produced in this context.
The Social Partners met in Farmleigh House on 8 November 2007 for the second Plenary meeting under Towards 2016. The Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Minister for Finance, Minister for Health and Children and Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government were in attendance. The Third Progress Report under Towards 2016 was launched at this meeting.
Since the First Progress Report, a number of key national strategies have been published by Government, including: a new Statement of Housing Policy, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities; the White Paper on Energy Policy Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland 2007-2020; the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012; the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, and the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016.
These negotiations have delivered Towards 2016, the 10-year Framework Social Partnership Agreement, 2006-2015.
The Social Partners subscribe to the NESC vision of Ireland in the future, the key foundations of which are: a dynamic, internationalised, and participatory society and economy, with a strong commitment to social justice, where economic development is environmentally sustainable, and internationally competitive.
The shared overall goal of Towards 2016 is to realise this vision by:
· Nurturing the complementary relationship between social policy and economic prosperity;
· Developing a vibrant, knowledge-based economy;
· Re-inventing and repositioning Ireland’s social policies;
· Integrating an island-of-Ireland economy, and;
· Deepening capabilities, achieving higher participation rates and more successfully handling diversity, including immigration.