RELIGIOUS REACTION:THE GOVERNMENT'S acknowledgment that the review of the wider provisions of the Towards 2016 national agreement is to continue has been welcomed by the Conference of Religious of Ireland (Cori).
The organisation said it was encouraged by a Government statement saying "the institutions of social partnership remain in place and operational" and that it expected the review to conclude in the near future.
The Government statement came despite the breakdown in talks on a new national pay deal, which would form part of an overall social partnership agreement.
Cori justice director Fr Seán Healy said it was regrettable that an agreement on pay had not yet been reached, but said it was essential in difficult economic times to ensure that Ireland's vulnerable people were protected.
Fr Healy said those most in danger such as the working poor, those depending on social welfare payments, the elderly, the unemployed and people with disabilities must not be forgotten in the talks.
"Sometimes in the past government actions to tackle financial difficulties have had very negative, if unintended, impacts on people in these groups; this should not be allowed to happen in the present situation," he said.
Cori represents more than 135 religious congregations with 10,000 members in Ireland.
