Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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In regard to section 2 and JobsPlus, I give notice of my intention to bring an amendment on Report Stage. In regard to the amendment, I respect the Minister's desire to take special measures to deal with long-term unemployment but there is a problem with doing it this way. Whether the period is 15, 12 or nine months, people who have just lost their jobs or have come out of education and do not want to be unemployed for any period of time are being told they will have to remain unemployed in order to benefit from this and similar schemes. People think that is crazy. It will end up pitting the long-term unemployed against those who have recently lost their jobs. I understand what the Minister is trying to do but I think there is a problem with it and I reserve the right to introduce an amendment on Report Stage.