Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is clear that we have all had experience of this particular type of case.

We have an oversight role. When we recommended that the Minister be contacted, we were hoping for a response with regard to the anomaly. What we have received is a letter that replies to the petitioner's particular circumstance and explains that the rules have been applied correctly in his case. We knew that before we started. What we need to discuss is the anomaly. Why has the Department set up its systems to allow a man like this - or anyone else - to slip through and to be back in a situation of unemployment? I do not accept in that case that the Minister's letter is a full response. Remarkably, the Minister's letter says there is no anomaly. I, for one, see an anomaly here. I therefore recommend that the committee invite the Minister and her officials to attend the committee, along with the petitioner, to debate this matter. This is an oversight of public service issue and it affects many people. As public representatives we are all very familiar with receiving letters from the Minister in response to representations. Very often we are of the view that we want to push it further but it is difficult to do so. This is a man who wishes to push it further and I would wish to push it with him.