THE Taoiseach has agreed to meet the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed to discuss their claim to participate in talks on any new national agreement to succeed the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
"The fact that we are meeting Mr Bruton is a very big step forward", said Mr Paul Billings vice president of the INOU. "We are confident, given his strong advocacy of the jobs economy and unemployed representation on the jobs forum while in opposition, that he will be personally supportive of our claim."
The meeting is set for May 28th and the INOU is writing to all trade unions and farmer and employer bodies locking for their support. It also plans to lobby TDs and senators.
"For the long term unemployed, national agreements have not meant a job, an improvement in housing, education or health provision," Mr Billings said.
However, the INOU believes issues like unemployment can be best addressed through national agreements, provided the unemployed are directly represented.
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises organisation (ISME) has also been campaigning for recognition as a full social partner and has met the INOU to discuss co ordinating their activities.
The chief executive of ISME, Mr Frank Mulcahy, said that when a delegation recently met Mr Gay Mitchell, the Minister of State in the Taoiseach's office, it was only offered representation in a wider forum. This was unacceptable he said.