Mr. John Stewart:

I thank the Chairman and members for the opportunity to make a submission. Access to a comprehensive and professional employment service and supports is absolutely essential to facilitate unemployed people in getting back to work. Unfortunately, we cannot say that all unemployed people who are in receipt of an unemployment payment have access to such a service. Unfortunately, unemployed people not in receipt of an unemployment payment who are not on the live register are even further down the queue in terms of being able to access such a service. I invite my colleague, Ms Bríd O'Brien, who drafted our submission to take us through it.