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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s detailed reports for the period ending May 2003 and the useful documentation attached.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the objectives the Government set in its Employment Action Plan for 1998 in regard to long-term unemployment have been successfully attained. Between 1993 and 2000 long-term unemployment as a percentage of total unemployment went from 9 per cent to 1.2 per cent, representing a total decrease of 84 per cent. The Government states that the dramatic reduction in long-term unemployment in a relatively short period of time is a remarkable achievement and a significant contribution towards reintegrating a disadvantaged group of workers into the labour market. More recent labour force survey data show that during the period in question labour force growth has continued to exceed employment expansion, with the result that unemployment has also continued to increase. In the first quarter of 2003, the unemployment rate stood at 4.6 per cent as compared to 3.7 per cent for the first quarter of 2001. In terms of employment growth, the public sector has exhibited the most significant increase in job growth while employment in agriculture has continued to decrease.

2. The Government explains that with the aim of reducing consistent poverty it has adopted a national anti-poverty strategy that serves as a coherent framework for actions to tackle exclusion and disadvantage in society. The national anti-poverty strategy is reviewed in consultation with the social partners with discussions focusing on six main themes: educational disadvantage; employment; rural poverty; urban disadvantage; housing/accommodation; and health. The Government also states that it has concluded an agreement with the social partners, Sustaining Progress - Social Partnership Agreement 2003-05, in which it sets out several main objectives, including to maintain Ireland’s international competitiveness through policies that encourage enterprise and investment, to ensure that those in work have a fair share in the increased national prosperity, to substantially increase resources allocated to social inclusion, and to enable Ireland to become a learning, knowledge-based society, with the capacity to embrace with confidence the opportunities offered by technological change. The Committee takes note of this information with interest and hopes the Government will continue to provide information on the agreements and partnerships established with social partners and the impact they may have on attaining the objectives of this Convention. Please also continue to provide more general information on how employers’ and workers’ representatives are consulted, as required by Article 3 of the Convention.

3. The Government states that it has implemented a range of policy and legislative instruments to meet the goal of increasing the female labour force participation rate. Recent legislative developments such as increased maternity leave and the introduction of the Carer’s Leave Act, 2001 and the Part-time Workers Act, 2001, are meant to facilitate women’s retention of and advancement in employment. Additionally, in terms of childcare investment, the Government has allocated €437 million under the National Development Plan 2000-06 which has already supported an additional 12,200 childcare places. The Committee notes that the relatively strong growth of female employment in recent years has been an important feature in maintaining labour supply in a rapid growth context. Between 1998 and 2003 female employment increased by 26 per cent, while male employment grew by 15 per cent.

4. The Government indicates that immigration from non-European Economic Area countries has grown substantially in recent years. Work permits issued have increased from 6,000 in 1999 to 36,000 in 2001. Due to the increase in unemployment, it has introduced changes in the work-permit scheme to ensure that persons in the domestic and European Economic Area labour markets are given first opportunity to avail themselves of job vacancies (see observation under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)). Between 1998 and 2002 the proportion of non-nationals in the Irish labour force increased from 3.3 to 5.4 per cent. The total amount of non-European Economic Area nationals has increased most rapidly in recent years, going from 10,000 in 1998 to over 40,000 in 2002. According to the Government, new legislation to regulate immigration and work permits is currently being drafted and is to be introduced in the Irish Parliament in the autumn 2003 session. The Committee requests that the Government continue to provide information on the impact of the new legislation adopted on the integration of migrant workers in the Irish labour market.