This is another example – I regularly get on my soapbox about this issue – of the denial of the mandate held by Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas with regard to issues that transcend pay and conditions. The social partnership process has now moved into a range of policy areas where the partners are influencing the Government of the day to such an extent that they can get the Government to agree to an initiative such as this, among many others. It is long past time that the concept of the social partnership process was examined to ensure the elected representatives of both Houses should have some input from the initial stages. They should at least be aware of what is happening rather than being faced with a fait accompli when the agreement made in Government Buildings is brought before the Houses. However, I will not use up my time discussing that issue.