Mr. James Hickey:

On training accreditation, I think we are all agreed the Crowe Horwath report makes various recommendations, which would include proceeding with the development of accreditations systems for trainees. There is no doubt that is something that can and should be done. We welcome it. As I understand the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will implement the recommendations of the report, which includes this issue. That would be very welcome and is something which can and should be done. It will need a certain amount of resources.

It is probably worth mentioning that historically accreditation and going through the grades was organised through the trade unions. That system still exists in some parts of the trade unions. Again, as part of the proposed dialogue in the forum, it might be brought back into the discussion as well too. The trade unions have a significant role to play in accreditation and how people would go through the various processes of training in order to progress to employment.

I am 100% happy with the suggestion that a forum be reestablished and to reconstitute what was called the consultation committee. It was initiated during a period when there was less work going around and it was a good forum for discussions about what needed to be done. Happily at the time, levels of employment and production activity increased. Therefore the committee did not meet. I am happy for the committee to meet again and I am happy to co-ordinate and organise the meetings, if that is something the industry would welcome.