Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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I will return to the issue of exclusion and those groups in particular. It is something that we keep coming back to, for good reason. I note Social Justice Ireland stated that there has to be "a major commitment to retraining and re-skilling". I do not want to put words in anyone's mouth, but some of that retraining and reskilling has to involve employers, human resource managers and the reframing of how we think about people who are in the groups that are highest represented among the unemployed. On what we can do, is it a case of incentivising employers to take on people from this group?

Is it a case of punishing employers who do not take people on from this group?

What are the witnesses' thoughts on the role the State plays? The State is a massive employer, but it often fails in its obligations. That is no criticism of any one Department or group. There are plenty of people who are working hard to try to make their workplace a little bit more diverse. There are many barriers, however. For example, the supports falling off a cliff edge if you get a job is huge for many people, while lack of affordable childcare is a bigger issue for lone parents. Where do the witnesses see it? Is it carrot or stick? Should the State be doing more to lead? If the State, as a massive employer, has to do more, the targets are there but they are not often met. I do not put that at the door of any particular human resource manager. I am just wondering what can be done. As I said in my opening remarks, if the rising tide does not lift all ships, you have look at what the ships that have not been lifted need.