Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

The implication of the Minister of State's reply to amendment No. 33 is that an arbitration system should never be developed in case people decide to use it. The point of such a system, however, is that people can use it. That is the reason arbitration is used for labour relations and other areas. It is basic justice to allow arbitration in disputes. I do not think one should assume that all 400 nursing homes would rush to arbitration. Clearly, criteria would have to be met but this is a requirement in all systems of arbitration. The Minister does not accept the amendment on the basis that 400 nursing homes might go to arbitration. If the Minister took that approach no system would ever have arbitration within it and as we know, arbitration is a well defined mechanism that is used. Where there are varying views in industrial relations an arbitration system is set up. This is a basic measure that should be in the Bill.