Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

While the Minister of State may have a point about people wanting short-term contracts, the optimum situation is undoubtedly for people to be taken on full-time. If the Government takes seriously or accepts that the optimum scenario is to have people recruited on a full-time basis if or when we need them then the amendment should specify that this is the first call. The Minister of State should consider that if he takes the point. It should be specified that any recruitment via an agency would only be after the possibility of full-time recruitment for the necessary position has been exhausted and someone could not be found. In that context there might be a possible case for taking people on via an agency.

I do not accept the response or the point made by the Minister of State. The fact is general practitioners and in some cases consultants are testifying to the fact that people are not capable of work, permanently incapable of work or require full-time care. Despite this medical testimony from qualified medical professionals the Department is refusing people. That is a fact. I do not see how that can be justified in almost any case.