Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to give the commitment that, if I am invited, I will come back within six months to update the House on my role in this matter. I would earnestly hope this issue will be dealt with within that timeframe, and that is certainly what I want to see happen. There is no need for endless negotiations or months of talks from 28 January.

In regard to the other question on the role of the commission and then, within that, the role of the HR department vis-à-visthe members of the commission, I look at the Act and that is what I take my direction from. The commission makes a proposal. How the commission arrives at that internally with regard to its own processes, the HR department and the members of the commission is really a matter for itself. I have no doubt there is a level of contact with the officials in my Department. What I have asked my own officials to do is to be positive and helpful with a view to bringing about a resolution to this issue, and to keep me informed of that contact, even in advance of 28 January. It is important that I am not just presented with a proposal while not understanding the background to it or how it came about.

Ultimately, as the Senator well knows, in the case of any industrial relations issue that is going before the WRC, both parties have to spell out their position. SIPTU will have to spell out exactly what the proposal is in writing in respect of SAs in the Seanad and the Dáil, and how it will deal with the detail and the consequences of the implementation of what it is proposing. It will have to spell that out and the commission will also have to outline its proposals.The commission will also have to outline its proposals and then, hopefully, an agreement can be reached. My officials are there in the background to support that process, not to block it. I want to be very clear on that point. I have given them that feedback and given that signal publicly on the floor of the House today. Ultimately, I expect that a proposal will be made. That will come to me, and I am happy to commit that I will be back here within six months, if invited.