Ms Annie Hoey:

We discuss many things around students, including fees. There is a perception that we should just get on with it. Things may have worked out in the past but that does not mean that it is a fair way to treat any kind of worker, student or otherwise. All one needs to do is read the comments section on any journal or anywhere, where the attitude of "I did it so you should do it" is rife. This particularly applies to students, where there is a real misunderstanding of what it is like to be a student. Fees have gone up 383%, which is astronomical. If that happened in any other sector the place would be going bananas. The increases that students are facing, the fact that they are working so many more hours, the mental health difficulties that they are facing and the number of suicides we hear about show that it is not easy being a student. If there is any way that a Government can support students or support workers to make things more fair, balanced and sustainable it is the responsible thing to do.

On the idea that six months is enough, we have some concern given that the unfair dismissal legislation does not come into play until 12 months. If a student works nine to 12 months and asks at six months for more guaranteed work, the legislation does not apply for another six months. There is a catch there that we are concerned that people might fall through. This applies to students and other workers as well, but particularly to students as they tend to work for nine to 12 months and go somewhere else for the remaining months of the year.