Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Social partnership is the only forum where Government can engage with all sides — labour, business, the farming community and the community pillar, which includes the unemployed and various voluntary bodies. There is no more vital place in which the Government can engage and demand and secure support. This will only work, however, if engagement also takes place at political level.

On two occasions in recent months Senator MacSharry raised the need for the House to track and monitor developments in social partnership. A committee of the House should engage with the social partners to ensure the House monitors and is informed of all developments in social partnership. Never has this been more important. Irrespective of the issue, whether the Lisbon treaty or the economy, the time has come for the Government to meet and engage with all levels of civic society, and it can only do this effectively if it brings with it the political tier, particularly the non-government side.

A crucial issue must be addressed and I appeal to the Leader to make this clear to the Government. There is no point in whinging about not making progress on the Lisbon treaty or not being understood on the economy if Ministers do not come before the House to mix with us and have the type of engagement it has in other places.