Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has apologised for comments he made in a speech this morning in which he he suggested that he did not know how people who engage in cribbing and moaning about the economy 'don't commit suicide'.
During his speech to the ICTU conference in Bundoran this morning, Mr Ahern had been speaking about people who 'talk down' the economy.
He said sitting on the side-lines cribbing and moaning was a lost opportunity. He said he did not know how people engaged in that 'don't commit suicide'. Mr Ahern subsequently apologised for what he described as a bad choice of words, saying he had not meant it that way.
In his speech, the Taoiseach denied that the Government sought an opt-out from the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. Mr Ahern told delegates that he wanted the charter to apply as agreed in 2004.
He said the Government merely wanted to study the implications of the last-minute opt-out sought by the UK.
Mr Ahern also announced a new initiative to alleviate fees for part-time students in third level public institutions who have not previously pursued a third level qualification. The new scheme is part of the Government's strategy to improve the skills of the workforce and boost competitiveness.
The Government has also commissioned research into the impact on the economy of employment agencies. Unions fear that the use of agency workers is undermining terms and conditions for permanent employees and is facilitating exploitation of migrant workers.
Meanwhile, ICTU vice-president Rosheen Callender told the conference it was time to end 'pussyfooting and procrastination' on pensions.
She called on new Minister for Social & Family Affairs Martin Cullen to publish, without further delay, the Green Paper on Pensions which was prepared before Easter. She accused the previous Government of having kept the report under wraps.
Ms Callender, who is a member of the Pensions Board, also called for last August's report from the body on mandatory pensions to be put before the Government.
'These two documents can serve to point the way forward, for present and future pensioners, by providing practical guidelines for extending the quantity and coverage of supplementary pension arrangements and improving their quality and adequacy,' she said.
