Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

If any Member of the House has made a significant contribution through the years to the improvement of workers' rights in the context of social partnership, which is a unique model from which Ireland has benefited significantly, it is the Taoiseach.

As an agreement, social partnership has been fundamentally responsible for the advancement of workers' rights, social conditions and social programmes and has led to a consensus approach between unions, employers, the Government and all parties to advance the social agenda in this country. I assure the House that the Taoiseach remains committed to improving and enhancing that agenda, to closing any gaps that may open because of globalisation or otherwise, to continuing to copper-fasten the protection of employment rights and to ensuring compliance with labour law.

Deputy Broughan stated we had a cheek to call on people to engage in social partnership.

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