He stated that the workshop was held to explore options for early involvement of Parliament in the treaty-making processes in South Africa; and to discuss modalities for enhancing current mechanisms for scrutinising treaties and oversight on their implementation. Members were reminded that the issues around the role of Parliament in treaty-making had been dealt with in previous engagements. The Committee was well aware of the provisions of the Constitution, and also of the different responsibilities bestowed upon the different arms of state for treaty-making processes. Parliament was by no means laying a claim to a negotiating mandate, nor seeking one. It remained the task of the Executive to negotiate treaties in the international arena.