Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the meeting on the midlands we had last week with trade unions and other groups, there was a clear desire to have access to the Workplace Relations Commission, not necessarily to look at industrial relations but to have a location where a variety of stakeholders can be brought in. The plan for the midlands must be integrated. It must look at a range of connected issues, including the ramping up of training, educational and skills development and the involvement of other landowners and other scientific and environmental actors. As was said at our earlier hearing, this is our first go at this. If, in the broadest sense, we do not get the partnership approach right with regard to bringing in all stakeholders, we will start on the wrong foot and it will become more difficult each time we come to a transition area where we need to get public, worker or stakeholder support. Why would the Government not support the use of the Workplace Relations Commission in the absence of our Bill, which would provide such a mediation-type service? How does the Minister intend to respond to the call from Patricia King for the use of the Workplace Relations Commission in this regard?