Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2005 > Committee on European Affairs > Report No. 07 - Report on the Lisbon Strategy (Part 2)

Tithe an Oireachtais

An Comhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Eorpacha

An Naoú Tuarascáil

Tuarascáil ar Chlár Lisbon, (Cuid 2)

An ghné shóisialta a neartú

Márta 2005

Houses of the Oireachtas

Joint Committee on European Affairs

Ninth Report

Report on the Lisbon Strategy, (Part 2)

Strengthening the social dimension

March 2005

Joint Committee on European Affairs

Ninth Report

Report on the Lisbon Agenda, (Part 2):

Strengthening the social dimension

Contents

Joint Committee on European Affairs

Ninth Report

Report on the Lisbon Agenda, (Part 2):

Strengthening the social dimension

The Joint Committee on European Affairs at its meetings of 15 December 2004 and 2 February 2005 heard presentations from representatives of the European Anti Poverty Network and the Community Platform regarding the social dimension of the Lisbon Agenda. The Joint Committee also noted a submission from the Community Platform on the matter. The witnesses representing the Community Platform who appeared before the committee were as follows;

- Mr. Robin Hanan, European Anti Poverty Network Ireland

- Ms. Orla O’ Connor, National Women’s Council of Ireland

- Mr. Eric Conroy, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

The Joint Committee agreed at its meeting of 2 February 2005 to specifically include the social dimension in its monitoring of the implementation of the Lisbon Agenda as part of its work programme and to write to the relevant Departments to offer the view that the social dimension be given appropriate weight in the context of the Mid term review of the Lisbon Agenda due to take place in early March.

The Joint Committee also agreed to consider a short statement in the form of a report of the Joint Committee and attach the submission received as Appendix thereto.

At its meeting of 2 March 2005 the Joint Committee agreed the following statement;

The European Council of Lisbon in 2000 agreed a strategy to make Europe the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

For the European Union to achieve its aim the social dimension of the Lisbon Agenda cannot be neglected and must remain an important element in the overall strategy.

In light of this the Joint Committee recommends that each Government Department should give the appropriate weight to the social dimension of the Lisbon Agenda during its negotiations and in particular in the context of the Mid term review.

The Joint Committee thanks the representatives of the European Anti Poverty Network and the Community Platform who made presentations to the committee and for the submission received. The submission is attached as Appendix 3 for information.

Decision of the Joint Committee.

The Joint Committee agreed at its meeting of 2 March 2005 to lay a report on the matter before both houses.

John Deasy, T.D.

Chairman

2 March 2005