Ms Lorraine Mulligan:

I thank members of the committee for their questions. I will start with Deputy Carey's remarks about why we focused on JobBridge. One explanation is the five minutes allotted and the fact that we have fewer concerns regarding some of the other schemes. In particular, we are quite encouraged by JobsPlus. Senator Humphreys mentioned the interlinkage between these schemes, which must be looked at together. There is scope to enhance and expand JobsPlus as opposed to the current situation with JobBridge, which is an internship scheme. We feel that incentivising work that is directed at disadvantaged areas should be done through a direct payment for full-time work.

I wish to put on record that SIPTU certainly has not been hysterical or anything of that nature concerning JobBridge and its functioning in the past. The comments that have been made today are in light of very different circumstances. The key for the committee to understand is that we are in a different position economically. While there may have been arguments about the need for employers to have some incentives to take on people, we are now in a space where we are looking at skills shortages. Our basic question is whether there is a need in the business community to be subsidised at this stage. We do not see the case for that. We feel that there are other beneficial pathways for people who wish to progress.

The overall point is that it is important to be balanced. It is certainly the case that the debate tends to become ideological, but we are not seeking to put forward an ideological position on this.

I will now allow my colleague, Dr. Rigney, to continue.