Combat Poverty is to press for "poverty proofing" of any new agreement between the social partners to follow Partnership 2000.
If the move is successful, the proposals negotiated between the partners will be assessed to ensure they do not worsen poverty.
Poverty-proofing of new Government proposals has already been introduced, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, said yesterday at the launch of Combat Poverty's three-year strategic plan.
Combat Poverty aims to work with local authorities to ensure that they, too, judge their policies and programmes in the light of their effects on poverty.
The agency also seeks to have child poverty - especially in relation to educational disadvantage and early school-leaving - taken into account when policies are being poverty proofed.
"By 2001 the agency will have heightened public concern for and awareness of the causes and consequences of child poverty," Combat Poverty's director, Mr Hugh Frazer, said. "We will be supporting the networking of community and voluntary organisations concerned with child poverty." The State was in a position to tackle poverty effectively. "The next three years provide a serious and exciting opportunity to make major steps to wards the elimination of poverty."