Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

In 2006 the National Economic and Social Forum produced a report which acknowledged that there were barriers to labour market inclusivity. This is really what we are looking at. We are not interested in the hand-out mentality. We accept that people need hand-outs at certain intervals — for example, if they are not working as they progress through their career paths. The forum's working document, Creating a More Inclusive Labour Market, highlighted issues such as transportation and child care. It pointed out that literacy and numeracy problems were preventing people from entering the labour market. I remind the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, that the report stated the poverty traps encountered by many single mothers represented one of the main barriers to labour market inclusion. The budget will not lead to the elimination of poverty traps. Does the Minister of State agree that the very good report compiled by the National Economic and Social Forum which was presented to the Taoiseach in January 2006 but is now sitting on a desk should be heeded and re-examined? Will she facilitate the synchronisation of the various Departments to try to maximise labour market inclusivity which is badly needed?

When I met one of my constituents, a good Fine Gael supporter, on Monday night, she told me that when she went to collect her Christmas bonus, she met a man at the counter who had been receiving unemployment welfare assistance for a considerable period. The woman in question who has been receiving unemployment assistance for 12 months discovered that the man she had met at the counter was getting a Christmas bonus, but she was not. Why should a woman who had paid contributions towards stamps before she left employment 12 months ago not be entitled to a Christmas bonus, when long-term welfare recipients are? I would like to voice my concerns on behalf of the woman in question.

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