John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

Many Senators have mentioned social partnership, from which nobody can doubt that we, as a nation, have benefited tremendously since it was introduced. I was particularly taken by the contribution of Senator Minihan and that of the Minister of State, a party colleague of his. I was also interested in the comments of the Tánaiste in regard to the current social partnership agreement. The farming body finds itself in a position where it is forced to make a decision as to whether it will enter into social partnership again and the Tánaiste's best answer is they would be better in than out. As far as I can ascertain, there is nothing on the table for the agricultural community in the current negotiations.

I salute the stance taken by the social partners on the agricultural side in standing up to the Government for its lack of activity and promotion of the sector and its lack of a general policy for the area of agriculture in recent years. I know it is a particularly awkward position for the Minister of State as a former leader of a farming organisation. I urge him, as someone who has sat on both sides of the table in the partnership negotiations, to bring fruition and finality to the partnership with the involvement of farmers who must be given a realistic package. They will accept it if it is realistic.