Mr. Michael Culbert:

I will step in there. The point brought up by Deputy Smith is totally valid. The problems we face are in practice, rather than as a result of legislation.

There seems to be an assumption, and rightly so, that people going into employment or training cannot be put into places where there is a possibility of criminality. We get that it could be related to protection of vulnerable people, financial issues, etc. Our problem is that the types of imprisonment we experienced over the years of the conflict are not relevant to the matters at hand of going into employment. For instance, a young man employed as a cleaner in Belfast city centre was charged with particular activities during the conflict. He was put out of employment as a cleaner. We were quite successful in reasoning with the employer. It was an American employer but was obliged to follow local rules. The employer did not want to dismiss him but, initially, did so. After consultation with the Stormont working group, the man was reinstated to his work.

The problem is some employers are stuck because they are aware of legislation relating to a person with a criminal record, which, unfortunately------