Kenny rules out return to social partnership

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has said the Government is “open and receptive” to dialogue with trade unions — but ruled out a return to the social partnership model of the past.

At the Irish Congress of Trade Unions biennial delegate conference in Killarney, Mr Kenny said it “may be that the social partnership agreements are not appropriate at this time” but that it was necessary to have dialogue with the unions as one of the key interests in civil society.

Asked if the trade union movement would enjoy the level of influence it had during decades of social partnership, which ended acrimoniously two years ago, he said: “I don’t see this as being a case of proportionate influence at all. I see this as being a challenge for the future which requires decisions to be made.”