I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 27 together. I am satisfied that the outcome of the Dublin Summit will serve to facilitate progress on the Social Charter and I will continue to co-operate with the Italian Presidency as they co-operated with me over the past six months to ensure that by the end of 1992 all the proposals of the Commission under the action programme will have been examined and decided upon.
As Deputy De Rossa will be aware, the power of initiative in relation to draft instruments under the action programme rests with the Commission. Since January there have been three developments in relation to the implementation of the Charter. Faced with the volume and complexity of the extensive programme of legislation contemplated in the action programme, I secured the agreement of the Commissioner and the forthcoming Italian and Luxembourg Presidencies to a timetable covering several Presidency periods with a view to facilitating the achievement of the 1992 target, as I have already stated. I am pleased that this timetable has been welcomed by the European Council.
Secondly, the Commissioner instituted a new process of consultation with the social partners and had extensive discussion on the thinking underlying her priority proposals for instruments on atypical work and the adaptation of working time. While some may express concern at what they see as slow progress by the Commission in sending proposals to the Council, I believe that the process of consulatation will help to achieve balance in the texts.
Finally, with regard to the one package of draft legal instruments which the Commission recently sent to the Council — those on part-time and temporary workers — I arranged that discussion of them would commence in the relevant Council working party last week.