Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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This has been a useful exchange. The Department and the committee are trying to do the same thing. This must be the most-reported community, but it is not reports we need. We need to come up with actions that make continual, measurable change on an incremental basis until we get to the goal of equality. We also realise that this is only one part. Higher education is a part. Work experience is a huge part as is peers going into various professions and being able to go back and explain to young people that there are opportunities out there. There are many parts to this and we recognise that. The committee in its reports is focusing on doable actions all of the time - what is urgent, what can be done and what results can be achieved. We do not believe we will solve every problem in the world but we really want to try to solve, or press strongly and monitor the progress on, specific issues we feel will make a tangible and incremental difference to improve things. I thank the witnesses for the empathy they have shown today, and for the comprehensive replies they have given. It has been very useful.