Congress welcomes the very positive OECD statement on Ireland
2 Mar 2006
Congress has welcomed the latest OECD Economic Survey of Ireland, in particular the emphasis it places on education, upskilling and the supports necessary to increase female participation in the workforce.
According to Congress Economic Advisor, Paul Sweeney, the latest OECD Survey "tallies with our own analysis, in many crucial respects."
Mr Sweeney said Congress agreed with the OECD when it said that "further efforts at all levels, from pre-primary school to tertiary education and continued learning, are needed to bring the education system nearer to best practice."
Mr Sweeeney said: "Congress believes there is much, much work that needs to be done on the issue of life long learning and the introduction of f paid educational leave would be a good place to start."
In relation to meeting the challenge on labour supply, Congress agrees that investment in skills and greater the participation of women in the workplace are vital. Therefore, Congress was particularly pleased to see the OECD explicitly state that "support to families is not targeted at working parents" and that state support for childcare is inadequate. The OECD also noted that out-of-school-hours care is "almost non-existent."
On lone parents and access to work, OECD made recommendations but admitted "that most of this would have to wait until job support, childcare and out-of-school-hours care programmes are expanded."
In relation to economic performance, the OECD noted that Ireland's per capita per capita income has now caught up with the EU average OECD and that our "productivity performance has been stunning over the past decade"
However, the survey warned that Ireland has relied too heavily on foreign corporations as the "main generator of innovation and research".
Congress notes the OECD's statement that "unlike many other countries, the labour market is flexible," but believes that a growing culture of exploitation and abuse will require stronger implementation of the law and stronger labour market regulation.
ends