Mr. Brian Nolan:

In terms of the budget, it is about what it has done for the individual. For the apprenticeship system, a massive amount is being invested in it and that is welcome without a shadow of a doubt. We have to deal with the issues we have raised about minimum wage and those things. I think it was €500 in relation to the student charge or whatever that might be. I do not know how that will filter down because it was previously paid pro rata. It is not going to make a huge difference. Any difference is always welcome, of course it is. I do not want to be negative.

When we make submissions, and we do have a view of the world, we do not expect that everyone turns around and says Connect Trade Union is right because it has a view of the world. We do understand there are different views and we have to work around that, but we do expect to be heard as the worker-learner representative. More and more, we find that the make-up of any group that is formed seems to dilute the role of any union involved, from worker rep to maybe having a seat or not, as the case might be. There are different groups. One form of group that was put together at one stage even suggested parents of secondary school kids, which is laudable in ways and concerning in another way. People may just have a view, and the world is full of opinions, but they have to be qualified opinions when talking about something that is going to shape the future of generations to come in terms of their qualifications. The obvious thing is they need to listen to us and at least give us the opportunity to have that say. If it is just the sharing of views, that is fine and we are happy to do that. We have never baulked. We have always been involved in every structure.

I was involved in the national apprenticeship advisory committee, which was one of the most important bodies, advisory to the boards of SOLAS and FÁS and AnCO prior to that for the purpose of apprenticeship. It dealt with appeals, the legal challenges that possibly presented themselves and everything. It worked and it represented all stakeholders. The union only had its seat. It was not an over the top when it came to unions. A large amount of employers had their say from all the various sectors, but we have gone away from that somewhat. It is a committee for all, but the function is not necessarily delivering.