asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if he will make a statement concerning the meeting early in January between members of the Government and the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions concerning pay negotiations in 1979, with particular reference to Ireland's entry into the EMS.

Since the beginning of January I have had a number of meetings with representatives of the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The first meeting was on 4 January and it took place at the request of ICTU. Discussion centred on issues arising from Ireland's participation in the European Monetary System. As the commencement of EMS has been delayed, it was decided to complete these discussions at a later date. The Government's White Paper, Programme for National Development 1979-1981 was also discussed at the later meetings.

Could the Minister make an interim statement on the progress of those discussions?

The discussions were very comprehensive and wide-ranging. We attempted to review all the relevant issues which would arise as a consequence of membership of the EMS and at the later meetings we discussed the implications for domestic action of the various development objectives set out in the Government's White Paper. As a result of those meetings, I undertook to convey an outline of the Government's thinking on these matters to the Executive Council and I have done so.

Was this in the form of a document?

Yes, an outline document indicating an agenda of items on which some understanding would be required if there were to be a comprehensive agreed programme of action.

In the course of those negotiations, did the Minister put before the social partners a desirable wage figure for 1979?

No. The specific position of the two representatives was that they had not a mandate to discuss pay increases or the likely format of any possible new wage agreement. For that reason, there was no specific discussion on these issues.

Has the Minister any idea when the EMS will be inaugurated and when talks with the ICTU will be continued?

That is a separate question.

The Minister said that talks would take place as soon as the inaugural date of the EMS was known. When does the Minister expect this might be?

As the Deputy is probably aware, the delay in regard to the introduction of the EMS is associated with the need to resolve a number of specific issues in the agricultural area, the operation of the MCAs. It is understood that these issues will be further discussed at a meeting of the agriculture Ministers next Monday and Tuesday.

4.