Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The subsidies the wet trades get do not apply to the insurance, auctioneering and engineering industries. That will have to change and there will have to be an even playing field for all employers. I cannot see why one is fish and one fowl when they are trying to encourage people, give them skills and give people in their locality jobs. That will have to be urgently addressed. That would have the support of the committee if Mr. Donohoe wants to bring it back to SOLAS.

I am from the midlands and much of the meat industry is based there - the preparation work, killing and packing. I would be keenly aware that if I knew a kid playing football and wanted to give him a job I could guarantee him a job in a meat factory in the morning but unfortunately he would not want to work there.

If somebody was receiving jobseeker's allowance and became self-employed their entitlements would be scaled down over several years. That certainly was the case unless it changed very recently. Where there are people on the live register looking for permits in these places even if they get €27,000 starting they are afraid of losing their benefits. That is one of the biggest factors stopping people going into the workplace. Could we try a model that people on the live register would retain a certain amount of their benefits, such as their medical cards or housing? Is that in place?