20 years of social partnership agreements, 1987-2007

A potted history.

Programme for National Recovery, 1988-1990

Forged when unemployment was at 15 per cent and the national debt ratio at 115 per cent, the first partnership deal aimed to chart a way out of economic stagnation.

It set annual pay awards of 2.5 per cent over three years with tax cuts of £225 million and a commitment to build a fair, inclusive society with better public services.

Programme for Economic and Social Progress 1991-93

After the success of the first agreement, the idea of consensus between government, employers, trade unions, farming bodies and the community and voluntary sector - known collectively as the social partners - had by now taken hold. The second deal provided for annual pay rises of 4 per cent in the first year, 3 per cent in the second and 3.75 in the third year. New commitments were made in areas such as tax reform, training and labour legislation.

Programme for Competitiveness and Work, 1994-96

Despite the dour title, the third deal - concluded in February 1994 - came at a time when inflation and unemployment were relatively low. There was a total pay rise of 8 per cent over the three years, though the staging was very different for the public and private sectors.

Partnership 2000, 1997-2000

The economy had already taken off, but it was only after 1996 that the huge jobs boom was fully evident - an achievement that was to see Ireland's unemployment rate fall from the 18 per cent of 1987 to just over 4 per cent. Yet long-term unemployment persisted and there was a growing income disparity. The deal provided for wage increases of 7.25 per cent over its lifetime.

Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, 2000-02

Rapid economic growth had led to infrastructural problems in housing, transport, telecoms and electricity.

The tightening of the labour market had led to immigration and rising wages in some sectors.

With a wider focus than its predecessor, this agreement included provisions on new areas such as housing, transport, urban planning and life-long learning. It included wage increases of 5.5 per cent in the first two years and 4 per cent in the third - double the rate of increase in the previous deal.

Sustaining Progress, 2003-05

Agreed after five months of negotiations, this deal came at a time when economic growth had slowed somewhat compared to previous years and provisions such as a new anti-inflation initiative reflected the new climate.

Unlike five previous agreements, there was no formal commitment to further tax reductions. On pay, it provided for cumulative rises of some 13 per cent over three years.

Towards 2016, 2006-07

Though its provisions on pay spanned just over two years (a 10 per cent rise over a 27 month period), the agreement was framed as a 10-year plan for the fulfilment of a series of economic and social objectives.

Key commitments included linking the lowest social welfare payment to 30 per cent of average industrial earnings, increased enforcement of employment rules and a family carer strategy.

Ruadhán Mac Cormaic

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times