Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach

Foreword Sustaining Progress
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Foreword
When I formally launched the negotiations on a possible successor to the Programme for Prosperity and
Fairness at the PPF Plenary Meeting on the 31st of October last, I said that in light of the present economic
uncertainties, we would have to jointly take hard decisions on what our immediate priorities should be and
on those priorities that will need to be delivered in a more favourable economic climate.
We made similar hard choices in 1987 and they provided a solid platform for economic and social
development from which all of the people subsequently benefited. While nobody wishes to go back to the
bad old days, all of us have had to moderate our expectations so that we are in a good position to take
advantage of the upturn in the world economy when eventually it comes.
Our shared overall goal is to continue progress towards the realisation of the National Economic and Social
Council (NESC) vision for Ireland expressed in terms of:
■ Economic inclusion based on full employment.
■ Consistent economic development that is socially and environmentally sustainable.
■ Social inclusion and a commitment to social justice and Continuing adaptation to change.
Sustaining Progress – the sixth in a series of Agreements between Government and the social partners
dating back to 1987 - provides a coherent and focused strategy for managing the interlocking elements of
the economy and the behaviour of economic and social policies.
I firmly believe that in this Agreement we have in place agreed strategies in a range of areas that set the
way for moving forward over the next three years.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation of the positive contribution made by
all the people who took part in the negotiations and who worked tirelessly to bring about this new
Agreement.
We in Government are in absolutely no doubt that a renewed consensus expressed in this new Agreement is
in the best interests of all our people and we look forward to working closely with the social partners. I also
want to take this opportunity to again emphasise, with my colleagues, the Government’s continued strong
commitment to pursuing our nation’s well-being and prosperity through the process of Social Dialogue and
look forward to the ongoing dialogue on items of mutual interest.
Bertie Ahern, T.D.,
Taoiseach