Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I would be concerned if people did that, either inside or outside the EU. If they are outside the EU, they cannot come in without permits. A small number come in from outside the EU, so there is no difficulty in that area.

I recognise in broad terms and from looking at many companies the commercial realities and competitive pressures that will impact on employment here that are not sustainable. Outsourcing can be a necessary legitimate response to those pressures. It generally involves a reorganisation of work practices and protection systems. In that sense it is not a direct displacement of one worker by another.

In reply to Deputy Sargent's question, the best defence for workers against these pressures is to ensure that our approach to wage bargaining is responsible and reflects competitive realities. Then we do not become uncompetitive and do not have people trying to come in and undercut in that way, at least in most cases.

There is a process for new members to join the social partnership. I pointed this out before. I am unsure of the environmental end. What has happened to date is that the NGOs have worked through Comhar, the national sustainable development partnership. That has been the appropriate forum through which environmental organisations with the social partnerships are engaged in the promotion of sustainable development. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has in recent years built up a good relationship with the NGOs and has given them funding. It is a closed group, with about 20 organisations listed. Comhar is also represented on the environmental co-ordinating committee, which was established to co-ordinate environmental policies with regard to issues arising across Departments and under the national development plan and the Community Support Framework. The environmental NGOs are also represented separately on this committee through An Taisce. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government works closely with a variety of environmental NGOs on other issues. I understand the question of representation for environmental NGOs in the formal structures of partnership has been discussed in Comhar. I have received no formal response from these organisations on joint partnership.

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