Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister may not have announced the scheme but he leaked it to the media. I do not know what the difference is and the media might explain it to us. The media ran with it over the summer and I was inundated with requests to find out Fine Gael's view on it. Deputy Shortall had the same problem. When will we see people taking part in this scheme? Will it be compulsory because, as I said previously, it would be wrong to take an accountant or an architect off the live register and have him or her sweep the streets. That would not be acceptable as a way to remove people from social welfare. Will the Minister confirm that will not happen?

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