Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To help jobseekers and get employers more involved, we have set up an employer engagement unit in the Department which now has more than 35 staff. Up to 600 staff in the Department's regional divisions work on employment services with both employers and jobseekers. As part of this structure, there are dedicated officers at the senior management level leading the employment process with employers at divisional level. Some time ago, I also established with the Taoiseach a labour market advisory council, chaired by Mr. Martin Murphy, managing director of Hewlett Packard Ireland, and made up of a significant number of large employers. This has resulted again in a strong focus on getting employers to include people from the live register for job interviews and, it is hoped, possible employment.

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