Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

A potential situation is that an individual goes to college and gets a degree. He or she finds there is no job for him or her in the labour market and he or she does a master's degree. When he or she again finds there is no job for him or her in the labour market, he or she does a PhD and then enters the labour market at the age of 24 years. The Minister can correct me if I am wrong, but he or she would then be paid at a lower rate than an 18 year old. After completing a PhD he or she might find a job that is not related to the PhD; it is simply a job to ensure he or she survives and pays the bills. Such an individual in his or her mid-20s will be paid less owing to the legislation than a person aged 18 years who has had a six month stint somewhere else.

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