THE Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has welcomed its inclusion in discussions on a new national agreement to succeed the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. This is the first time the INOU has been invited to participate in such an agreement.
The invitation was issued by the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and the INOU's officer board has decided to accept it. The organisation's chairman, Mr Paul Billings, said yesterday the INOU welcomed the opportunity "to put our demands on the table".
The INOU is one of a number of new organisations invited to participate in discussions on a new agreement.
However, the Government has made it clear that negotiations on core issues such as pay increases and taxation would be a matter for itself and the traditional social partners, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Mr Billings said his body was adamant that it should be allowed to participate "right through the entire negotiation process leading to a new agreement".
Key concerns for the INOU include more job creation programmes, a job guarantee for everyone unemployed for five years or more, the establishment of local employment services across the State and adequate resources to tackle unemployment and problems like drug addiction in disadvantaged areas.
The Small Firms Association has also accepted an invitation to participate in talks.
As an affiliate of IBEC, the SFA will not be at the negotiating table on pay and taxation either, but its director, Mr Brendan Butler, said it warmly welcomed the inclusion of small business interests in talks on an agreement to replace the PCW.