I look forward to an informed debate on the Bill and to hearing the Deputies' views on the measures contained it over the next two days. In regard to the national internship scheme, many employers have called for such a development to provide opportunities for people who are unemployed. This scheme presents an opportunity for everybody, whether in the private, public, voluntary or commercial sector, to give an opportunity to people who have qualified - be it a qualified apprentice, a graduate, a postgraduate or somebody who has done specific training perhaps to change his or her career orientation - to give them a foot on the ladder, to get vital job experience to enable them present a CV to an employer. It is a system that has been used in many countries quite successfully.

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