Social Partners now need to deliver substantial Social Inclusion package

2 Jun 2006

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) is calling on the Government and other social partners to put the same effort into ensuring that a meaningful social inclusion package is part of the new national agreement as it has put into the pay talks. Any effective new National Partnership Agreement needs to prioritise tackling poverty and make very substantial progress in addressing the significant deficits that remain in education, health, housing and supporting unemployed people back to work.

“The pay, employment standards and pensions issues are very important aspects of a new Partnership Agreement, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that these aren’t the only issues” said Mr. Eric Conroy, INOU General Secretary. “The INOU as a member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar in the current Partnership negotiations will be doing everything we can to ensure that this Agreement will address the difficulties faced by unemployed people and others who are distanced from the labour market” added Mr. Conroy.