Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the past the Minister has accused me of being opposed to JobBridge. Before she does so again, I wish to put it on the record that I have never opposed JobBridge per se. I have called for its reform and I wish all of those who get work from JobBridge or under their own steam well in those jobs.

However, I believe the Minister is a disgrace. She is turning her back on the unemployed, the unions and the Trades Council. She is adopting a right wing, workfare agenda. She is intent on making young and old people work for nothing, displacing paid jobs and reducing pay in other jobs. Is she aware that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions states that JobBridge in its current form depresses genuine job creation, decreases paid employment and undermines economic recovery? Is she also aware that the 61% statistic on achieving work which she quotes does not stand up to full scrutiny because it is not evident whether that work is full-time, permanent or contractual? It should not be forgotten that this is on the back of a free internship. The criticism in the question relates to Government Departments. It is an absolute disgrace, given that there is a public service recruitment embargo, that the State is using JobBridge to fill positions that should otherwise be filled by public servants.

See this speech in context