National Economic and Social Council (NESC)

National Economic and Social Council (NESC) - Ireland

National Economic and Social Council (NESC) - Ireland

Source: Department of the Taoiseach

The Council was established in 1973. The Council is under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach. It is funded primarily through a Grant-in-Aid which is part of the overall Estimate for the Department. The Annual Accounts of the Council are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Its main tasks are to advise the Government on the development of the national economy and the achievement of social justice. It analyses and reports on strategic issues relating to the efficient development of the economy and the achievement of social justice.

The Council may consider such matters either on its own initiative or at the request of the Government. Any reports which the Council may produce shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and published. Over one hundred reports on a wide variety of economic and social topics have been published by the Council on areas such as general economic and social policy, industrial policy, housing, social service priorities, agriculture, rural development and emigration.

Since the mid-1980s, the Council has published a series of strategy reports that have provided the framework for negotiation of the national agreements between Government and the Social Partners since 1987: A Strategy for Development 1986-1990 (1986); A Strategy for the Nineties: Economic Stability and Structural Change(1990); A Strategy for Competitiveness, Growth and Employment (1993) and Strategy into the 21st Century (1996). It published its latest strategy report - Opportunities, Challenges and Capacities for Choice - in December, 1999.

In addition to advising the Government, the Council provides a forum in which views can be exchanged between people who have a common interest in the development of the economy and in the pursuit of social justice.

The Council is representative of the major economic and social interests in society. Up to 1997 the Social Partners represented on the NESC were the Trade Unions, Business and Employer Organisations and Agricultural and Farming Organisations. Since 1998 the Community and Voluntary Sector has representation on the Council. The Government also nominates a number of public servants and independent members to the Council.

The membership of the Council comprises

a Chairperson appointed by the Government in consultation with the interests represented on the Council, and Five persons nominated by agricultural and farming organisations;
Five persons nominated by business and employers organisations;
Five persons nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions;
Five persons nominated by community and voluntary organisations;
Ten other persons nominated by the Government, including the Secretaries General of the Department of Finance, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Public Enterprise, the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs, and a representative of the Local Government system.

Any other Government Department shall have the right of audience at Council meetings if warranted by the Council's agenda, subject to the right of the Chairperson to regulate the numbers attending.

The term of office of members shall be for three years. Casual vacancies shall be filled by the Government or by the nominating body as appropriate. Members filling casual vacancies may hold office until the expiry of the other members' current term of office.

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