Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy seems to have much less hope, optimism and admiration for young people than I do. I speak as someone who has taught tens of thousands of students at third level in a long career spent with young people. I suggest the Deputy walk down any street in Ireland - or perhaps he might come with me - when he will meet young people and their parents who have had a very positive experience of internships and subsequently going on to find employment. In the United Kingdom and the United States internships are the preserve of wealthy, well connected individuals who ask for their sons or daughters to be given experience in companies and organisations in which their friends and peers are involved.

We have opened it to everybody, and Deputy Higgins can examine the personal stories of the people who have been successful.

With regard to the measures on jobseeker's allowance to which the Deputy referred, as I stated on budget day - perhaps he was not listening - the actual extra investment by the Department of Social Protection in young people in parallel with this measure will be €46 million-----

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