Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

If somebody wanted this kind of contact, obviously, he or she would not be complaining about it. The issue at stake arises after people secure employment. Seetec which is a private, for-profit company has been given consent to contact the future employers of such persons in order that details can be confirmed or otherwise. It is one thing to ask John how he is getting on and whether everything is going okay, but it is quite different to require him to sign something that will give Seetec permission in these circumstances. People like John have to sign these documents and will lose their benefits if they do not sign them. This process is making people feel very uncomfortable. Many of the individuals in question are older and have specialised in particular areas of work. Some of them have been offered positions of employment that they consider unsuitable for their skill sets. They believe they are being forced into jobs for which they might be overqualified, even though they want to explore other avenues to find employment in their own spheres of expertise. It is intrusive and demeaning for people like John to know that employers who take them on will be contacted to see how they are getting on.

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