Ms Annie Hoey:

There is our research paper. Students' unions up and down the country have always offered to support students, but they tell us that they just want to get through to the end of college. There is a very short time period or three years or a maximum of four and some in higher education also make claims. We support them too, but we have never taken a case all the way to the Workplace Relations Commission. Even if students are willing to push it that far, they do not have the finances or the time they need. They are a liminal group and leave after two or three years. The attitude is to grin and bear it, but, as a country, we should not facilitate that approach. When I worked in a local union, I pushed students to take these things further, but we can push them only so far because they are focused on their examinations and going to Australia or wherever it is they are going. It is very hard for them to move beyond coming to us and we are loath to push them if they do not want to take a case, nor can we do so on their behalf. It is frustrating for students' union officers around the country when a student has a very clear case of unfair dismissal or treatment and is not willing to take it further. They will leave work and retain a bad taste in their mouth from their time in employment as a student. Many are leaving the country to find employment elsewhere because of their bad experiences here. It reflects poorly on the great employers.