Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

It is to hear their views and have their input. It is to move forward in partnership, which has been the hallmark of this Government for some years.

The detailed statement we are working on will be announced in early 2007. When we issued the framework document last December, we thought various things might have moved forward more quickly during the year. Perhaps if we had produced our final document, it would have deprived the Opposition of the opportunity to pinch some of our ideas.

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