Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The flexibility offered by the amendment would greatly be improved if the Minister changed the period from six months to 12. However, I do not believe it is possible to amend it on the floor of the House. This issue was drawn to my attention by some of the workers and union officials associated with Drogheda Concentrates, the plant of Coca-Cola, which, unfortunately, is closing down. Because multinationals provide these schemes, it seems arbitrary to confine training to be completed within six months. Could the Tánaiste even extend the period to 12 months which would allow for a full-year course, as it would allow flexibility to someone considering going back to education in a particular way? That is all that is at issue.

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