Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The same principles apply to employment situations. We have a world class workplace relations service. We would all vote for that, just as everyone is in favour of Santa Claus at Christmas. However, employers are usually better resourced unless they have entered into difficulty. Fairness and principles can still be achieved through just people listening to the facts of cases and eliminating delays.

I commend Mr. O'Sullivan on his clear, concrete, seven-section document. It addresses the realities. With institutions and establishments, the danger is that people get lost in theories and hypothetical, abstract language. I have nothing against certain personalities. It is the way that language works. This is like Leaders' Questions, as the Chairman knows. Questions are asked in obtuse, obfuscated language in the third person and using the passive tense. The answers are the same. There is no engagement on ideas or communication. Imagine if we used this language across the dinner table at home. We would get nowhere and there would be rows, resentments, etc.

The objective is to declutter. If there are five establishments or institutions, we should knock heads and bring them together. The people involved are well trained and well qualified. Some of them have masters, PhDs or professional qualifications. We should simplify. For example, there are seven headings in this document. What are the practical experiences under these?

My experience was with the insurance ombudsman years ago. It related to an endowment policy that had substantially been missold.