Taoiseach hopes social partnership can be kept alive
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has called on employers and trade unions to keep the social partnership process alive.
Speaking at a business conference in Co Wicklow today, he said he believed the process was of great benefit to Ireland and should be maintained.
Under social partnership, employers, trade unions, voluntary groups and the Government come together at regular intervals to negotiate wide-ranging agreements for the years ahead.
The process is mainly designed to lead to greater economic stability by preventing local disputes that could lead to industrial action.
"We'll be starting the discussions on the seventh partnership programme later this year," Mr Ahern said today.
"I'm hopeful that all the social partners can again come to agreement to the benefit of the economy as a whole."
