Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of JobBridge is to give people experience that will allow them to move into employment. All international research shows that if one is more than six months unemployed, it is very difficult to return to the workforce. Departments give good quality work experience that helps people to get experience that will allow them to get employment. Unfortunately, Deputy Joe Higgins appears to want to criticise young people who get such experience. During the past three months I have made it my business to talk to many young men and women who have been involved in internships. They have told me, overwhelmingly, that they have got the experience to go back into employment. That is what JobBridge is doing; it is not about roars, screams and catchphrases. It is about providing experience to young people to allow them to get back into employment. That is something I support.

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