Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

There is evidence to show family circumstances are affected by unemployment. My life experience informs me that if one creates employment and people get up in the morning with a purpose, it changes their life and they will say as much. That is where we are going with this legislation. If someone asked me to move in that direction without giving me a sanction for the person who does not turn up, after some time, he or she will cop on to the fact that I cannot do anything about him or her. I must be able to impose a sanction on those who do not turn up and are always full of excuses but who are not willing to do anything. That is what this is about. However, it will be done in a fair and targeted way. I have discussed how we can target it with the Department. I believe in the gateway approach, that is, as people go through a process of three months and one year, we pick them up at certain milestones along the way and try to help them. In addition, if they are not available for activation, we ask some hard questions