Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today reminded an Ibec conference of the "bad old days of confrontation and conflict" in a speech during the run-up to negotiations on a new social partnership deal.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
He acknowledged collective bargaining did not always work as planned but said it has delivered the stability that brought about Ireland's economic progress and the social partners have "an obligation to contribute to its continuation".
"If we wish to remain a competitive, growing economy, with the capacity to improve our social provision, then we must continue to build on what it has achieved for us to date.
"I firmly believe that, as rapid economic and social change continues, Irish society needs the stability provided by the partnership approach.
"It has delivered far more for each of the participants — and that is all of us — than could possibly be achieved in the bad old days of confrontation and conflict," Mr Ahern said.
His comments follow serious reservations about entering into a new deal expressed by Siptu president Jack O'Connor last week.
Irish Ferries's plan to replace its seafaring workforce with cheaper labour from abroad, thereby circumventing Irish labour law, has deepened concerns within the trade union movement about the value of partnership.
Mr Ahern sought too reassure the unions by saying "free riders on partnership" and those who "ignore its requirements" should not be supported.
When asked about the Irish Ferries dispute by reporters afterwards, he promised the Government "will play our part in helping to try to alleviate those concerns".
The National Economic and Social Forum are examining the issues which would form the basis of the upcoming partnership talks, he said.
The Taoiseach also recognised employers' concerns about wage levels, saying how they are set is "critically important for stability and growth".
"We can best protect high incomes by setting wage growth at a sensible and affordable level.
"It is important that we do not undermine the job creation capability of the Irish economy or our international attraction as a place to work and to invest in. This is the context in which a successor to the current agreement must be considered."
Wages are not the only issue for the social partners, he reminded the conference, citing childcare and lifelong learning as issues where progress is required.
Employment rights and the means of having them upheld are also important, and Mr Ahern said that with 25 acts relating to employment rights there was need to simplify matters. Among other measures he said there was a need to "streamline" the eight separate bodies to oversee workers rights and address disputes.
"I must stress here that the objective is not in any way to reduce workers' rights or protections. Rather, our aim is to help the public and the expert practitioner to decode the system."
Mr Ahern said investment in education and research and development was "critical" to maintaining Irish competitiveness - and that a significant infrastructural deficit remains to be addressed, though Ireland is "catching up rapidly".
"In the global knowledge-based economy, we increasingly recognise human talent and creativity as the key resource - and the only sustainable source of competitive advantage," the Taoiseach said.