Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach

Overview Sustaining Progress
8
Review
Apart from the ongoing quarterly reviews, a particularly critical review will take place when the terms of
the pay review fall due for consideration.
Macroeconomic Policy
The central macroeconomic objective over the lifetime of this Agreement will be to consolidate the progress
of recent years and to achieve a medium term growth rate capable of sustaining high levels of employment
and facilitating the evolution of a more equal society. Securing competitively low inflation, sustainable
public finances, and social, economic and environmental sustainability are central to achieving this
objective. Chapter 3 (see p35) sets out the key principles that will inform decisions taken in relation to
macroeconomic policy during this Agreement.
Building, Maintaining and Sharing Economic Development and Prosperity
A central aim of the Agreement is to ensure that Ireland’s economic structures are capable of consolidating
and sharing economic development and prosperity. Agreed objectives and details of actions already
underway (see Chapter 4, p43) or proposed are set out in relation to infrastructure, the environment and
adaptation to continuing change.
Delivering a Fair and Inclusive Society
A central theme of this Agreement is the building of a fair and inclusive society and to ensure that people
have the resources and opportunities to live life with dignity and have access to quality public services that
underpin life chances and experiences. Agreed objectives and details of actions already underway (see
Chapter 5, p63) or proposed are set out in relation to poverty and social inclusion, health and addressing
health inequalities, equality, access to quality public services and the challenge of delivering a fair and
inclusive society.
Part Two – Sets out the terms of the Draft Interim Pay Agreement for the Private Sector (pages 74 to 76)
and the Public Service (pages 98 to 101) and addresses a number of related issues, including the National
Minimum Wage, statutory redundancy payments, workplace partnership and industrial relations issues.
It contains a wide range of measures aimed at protecting employees' rights; ensuring greater equality;
improving skills; promoting health and safety; bringing about a better work - life balance; and developing
integrated policies for migrant workers. Part Two also sets out the agenda for modernisation of the public
service. Payment of the final two phases of the benchmarking increases and the general round increases
for the public service is dependent on verification of satisfactory implementation of this agenda.