Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations and opening remarks and for all of the work they do all of the time and not just what is represented here today. I very much value that we should be moving at all times, and at all times measuring our progress for an inclusive society that is about empowerment and equality. I expect that the achievement of equality means positive discrimination in areas and positive action. I see this coming from a background of employment law prior to being here. How do we ensure everyone has access to employment, access to maintaining their employment and access to the supports they require once they are there? I am aware of people in full-time employment who need to be supported to stay there. Those who are in long-term precarious employment wonder about security of tenure and all of the potential for poverty that surrounds this. There is the potential at all times of falling into poverty. This is an area of priority for me. In ensuring we improve pathways to employment I am interested in the recommendations of the witnesses to the committee and their initial thoughts on these matters.