Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I support the call for a debate, at the appropriate moment, on what I hope will be a social partnership agreement. The word "productivity" has been mentioned. The productivity of this country has been fantastic under the national agreements of the past 15 years; we never saw its like before. Earlier today, I heard some union representatives express reservations about the agreement on the radio. I hope a comprehensive conclusion will be reached involving all parties and I encourage the Government and the social partners in that regard. I congratulate the president of ICTU, Senator O'Toole, on his role in the process. I hope there will be an agreement. Far from being a denial or bypassing of democracy, the process is an amplification of it. My definition of democracy is maximum popular participation in the government of the country and social partnership contributes to that.