Sir, - On September 12th, you published a letter from the Green Party Spokesperson on Employment and Enterprise regarding membership of the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF).
That letter referred to an Irish Times article of September 10th, and misquoted it as stating that the IBEC would strongly oppose the representation of the unemployed "within the NESF" because they are a single issue group. In fact, the unemployed are represented in the NESF, and have worked closely with IBEC and other groups on a range of economic and social issues.
The Irish Times article concerned participation in any new pay negotiations, not membership of NESF. The article was occasioned by the publication of NESF Opinion No. 4 - Post-PCW Negotiations - A New Deal?
The National Economic and Social Forum was established by the Government in 1993 to develop economic and social initiatives, particularly on unemployment, and to contribute to the formation of a national consensus on social and economic matters. The forum is made up of three broad strands.
The first strand represents the Government and Oireachtas, while the second is made up of the traditional social partners, employer, trade union and agricultural interests. The third strand represents groups traditionally outside the consultative process, including women, youth, unemployed people, the disadvantaged, people with a disability, the elderly, and environmental interests. - Yours, etc.,
Chairperson,
The National Economic and
Social Forum,
Government Buildings,
Dublin 2.