Ms Bríd O'Brien:

The State has a big role to play because it is a big employer, and a big employer with a reasonable geographic spread as well. The State, in order to be fair, has particular recruitment processes. However, as we try to address issues of exclusion and inequality and come to terms with the issue of diversity, some of those recruitment processes might need to be revisited.

There have been initiatives where, for example, the State has given people from the Traveller community short-term opportunities. It was probably more than 15 years ago. It worked well and people got a good experience. Likewise, in south County Dublin, opportunities were created in the office for some members of the community and then likewise among the general operatives. The State has in the past undertaken work. It will be important for the State to lead by example and then encourage other employers. Through the years, I have been struck by how many times a variety of people have said the State is not an employer. The State is an employer, and a very critical one. It could make a difference and help to open doors for people. The State could look at how it could be done and get the nuts and bolts of it to deliver.