The Taoiseach said that both himself, his Ministers and the ICTU delegation looked at the outline of requirements that would be necessary for growth and economic recovery which may present itself in due course as a medium term programme. Will the Taoiseach now outline to the House the basis of the requirements needed which were dealt with at that meeting, which may result in job creation which, I presume, is the prime target of economic growth and recovery?

I can let the Deputy have a copy of the statement which I made to the Congress on that occasion but I would just indicate at this stage that I was really elaborating the principles outlined in the NESC report and that we saw those principles as being the guidelines for the elaboration of such a programme of economic recovery.

A Cheann Comhairle——

I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla. I want to move on from this question.

Was the Taoiseach saying in reply to my last supplementary that questions of pay, the jobs embargo and reform of the PAYE tax system will not be subjects for discussion at these talks?

All aspects of the economy will be dealt with in the course of the discussions but the work on which we are about to embark is the formulation of a programme of economic recovery. I am glad to confirm what Deputy Spring said in that connection, that the primary purpose of such a programme will of course be the provision of employment.

Arising out of the Taoiseach's earlier reply might I ask him to clarify whether the requirements of the situation from the point of view of the Government included — as he and his Ministers specified to the representative of Congress — a pay freeze, public service embargo and no further special pay increases? The Taoiseach actually mentioned the requirements of the situation. I wonder did he set those out in detail?

I think the Deputy is confusing two separate matters here. The Government's conduct of financial policy is a matter for the Government. Government policy in that regard has been clearly outlined in the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance and in subsequent statements of mine and of other Ministers. The purpose of these meetings with Congress and with the other Social partners will be to formulate a programme of economic recovery generally along the lines laid down by the NESC report.

Could the Taoiseach indicate a timetable, however tentative, for taking the matter on from here?

As the Deputy will be aware it is difficult to set time limits on a process of discussion of this kind because it will necessarily involve all the social partners. The best thing I can say to the Deputy is that work will begin immediately, discussion with the social partners will commence as soon as practicable and the work will be pushed ahead through the summer months.