Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The belt and braces approach. It is not my intention that consultation, discussions or any engagement between an employer and one or more employees should be excluded. What the Minister of State said is new to me. He stated that if it is not included there, it is effectively excluded. I want more information on that. I would trust the Minister of State's view on it but I can assure him that I would not have tabled the amendment if I believed that were the case. I do not believe that is the case. If a Bill is silent on a matter, I cannot understand how that means it is excluded. I would like to get the information which brings him to that conclusion and we can revisit the matter on Report Stage. My view is that being silent on something does not necessarily mean it would be excluded. I would not want it to be excluded. The greater the flow of information between employers and employees, the better, whether it be between two people, groups or representatives.