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First Minister in Dublin
13/02/2008
The Irish model of social partnership highlights the importance and value of engagement in Scotland's National Conversation, First Minister Alex Salmond said today.
Speaking in Dublin, before delivering a lecture at Trinity College Dublin on "Scotland's National Conversation - The Next Steps", the First Minister said that by working together to achieve consensus social bodies have the power to deliver tailored solutions and improve lives.
Read the First Minister's full speech
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"The Irish model of Social Partnership has laid the foundations for two decades of unrivalled economic progress - by any global standard.
"That is why I have come to Dublin to set out our aspirations for Scotland's future - how we will create a Celtic Lion economy to rival the Celtic Tiger across the Irish Sea and how we create a successful society, not just a successful economy.
"To achieve this ambition, we must fashion a strong and enduring social partnership to match that built in Ireland.
"Ireland has pioneered a Social Partnership model that reaches out beyond government, business and trade unions - to draw in civic institutions, social enterprise, universities and others.
"Now the Scottish Government is engaging a broad coalition of all the major institutions in Scottish society. These groups are the cornerstones of Scotland's civic life and define us as a society. It is thanks to our distinctive institutions - our universities, our churches and our legal system - that Scotland has retained a strong and aspirant land during the three centuries that we have been part of the Union. It is these same institutions who now have a vital role to play in shaping the next steps of the National Conversation - actively contributing to the debate on the future of Scotland.
"What Ireland shows us is that there are few limits to the success of an independent nation united by a common purpose. Now it is time for the people of Scotland to set their ambitions high and determine what powers and responsibilities the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government need to deliver them."
