That can happen at any stage. Under the legislation, provision can be made by order to institute changes. For example, the composition of the NESC, which has five representatives from each of the four social partnership pillars, five representatives from Government Departments and five independent members, could be changed by order. The composition of the NESF has changed since it was first established. That organisation has 15 representatives from the Oireachtas, five representatives from each of the business, trade union and farming pillars, 15 representatives from non-Government organisations, five representatives from Government Departments, five representatives from local government and five independent members.
Deputy Bruton is correct in assuming that someone may state that perhaps the composition of these bodies should change or that new groups should be included. Provision would have to be made in the legislation for making a simple order to introduce such changes, which would not fundamentally alter the tasks or terms of reference of these bodies. Deputy Bruton raised this matter on a number of occasions and I have informed the parliamentary draftsman and those respon sible for developing the legislation to avoid creating a rigid system.
It is necessary for a number of reasons other than questions of staff permanency and the sustainability of the organisations involved that the legislation should be introduced. However, I do not want the legislation to be so rigid that nothing will ever change. I accept that the NESC has not changed but the composition of the NESF has changed from what was originally envisaged. The chairperson of the NESF, Maureen Gaffney, has put forward many imaginative proposals which have all been taken on board. The composition of the NCPP has changed under the two most recent programmes. This shows that as each programme is completed, the models are extended and developed. This happened in other countries with social partnership models. The Nordic countries have employed social partnership models since the early 1950s and these have changed with the passage of time.