Ms Jeanne McDonagh:

The OWL programme is good but it is not wide enough. There could be more internships. We mean paid long-term internships for a minimum of six months. We recommend that these are paid internships because if they are not, then people cannot afford access in the form of transport, clothing or whatever the barriers may be. Therefore, paid internships are important and would mean that there are more role models within the system. It would mean you have more people talking and there are wider conversations. Work experience or an experience of the work culture helps people to show themselves in their best light.

Mentoring is also a very successful way of getting people into work. Perhaps the Deputy will not agree with me but many people want to be politicians.