Agreements and treaties referred to the Portfolio Committee during the 4th Parliament raised important debates on the role and engagement of committees on agreements at different stages of negotiations prior to them being tabled for approval by Parliament. The thinking behind the above is that if committees are fully informed at all stages of the negotiating process when the Executive is considering agreements or treaties, it is envisaged that valuable inputs from a diverse group of stakeholders, representing a broad spectrum of citizenry, would give effect to the underlying principles of democracy. Currently, the practice leads either to an option of an agreement, which is approved with concerns or reservations, or the more difficult route of parliamentary committees withholding its approval, which may lead to a protracted process of having to engage on agreements after the fact.