Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I concur with the Tánaiste's views. I do not wish to be argumentative in this regard. She has been very fair. I suggest it is time to remove the obstacles, hurdles and impediments that prevent the implementation and application of the Tánaiste's policies. We need to expand the apprenticeship programme. She is right to suggest that many unskilled people suffer from forms of educational disadvantage, including literacy problems. They are important. I understand that the programme being implemented by Bord Bia is going very well. That is one of the areas that has done very well. There is a two-year waiting list for the services of the Free Legal Advice Centres, even though 800 young solicitors are unemployed. Why can something not be tried in that area to get rid of the backlog? If we recognise the caring sector as a real employer, we will gave young people an opportunity to get experience and training, to contribute and to feel they are participating positively. All of those areas should be explored.

We have to wash away the cobwebs of old thinking in this area. We have to start thinking afresh. I am worried that we are too staid. A kind of institutionalisation of thought may be preventing us from going the extra yard to embrace new ideas and make a positive contribution. We need to cater for our young people as real people, rather than as statistics.

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