Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Opposition Deputies for their comments and their welcome for the amendments. As the Deputy rightly said, the main amendment came through from the Seanad, which demonstrates its importance. We acknowledge its role and the role of Senator Ryan in particular.

This will not be headline legislation, but it brings together three important bodies, including the national centre for partnership and performance. I have noted some of the work it does and find it exciting because it is visionary. Perhaps we should publicise it more because it is looking at partnership in the workplace, particularly the workplace of the future. This is welcome. It is important to have such a body of committed people in the sophisticated economy and society in which we live. They can try to look into the crystal ball to see what issues may arise in the workplace, such as work-life balance, bullying and harassment and other complex issues that need to be addressed. We need a body like this to do that. In the area of technology there is huge potential to make life easier for everybody. It is important to bring the three bodies together and create a synergy between them and that is what we are doing.

Deputy Bruton raised the issue of the lack of Oireachtas involvement in the partnership process. In the context of the social partnership, I believe it is the duty of Government to govern. However, I acknowledge that as partnership has expanded to the voluntary pillar etc., there is an issue to be addressed. We need to put our heads together as to how we do this. Deputy Quinn spoke earlier in the debate on partnership on the new agreement Towards 2016, and mentioned the role of committees. There is so much detail in the agreement that I believe there is significant potential for committees to examine some of the issues in the coming years. I accept partnership is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Perhaps we could look at the issue under the process of Dáil reform. We have not got far with regard to Dáil reform, but we could deal with it in the context of reform of the role of committees. I am not sure we can do it in the short term, but I acknowledge there are issues that need to be addressed in the context of the Oireachtas as whole with regard to scrutiny of such a major document as Towards 2016. It is certainly a comprehensive agreement.

I thank the Deputies for their co-operation on this technical business at this late hour.

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