Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to refer to the very positive independent report published yesterday by Indecon on the JobBridge scheme which gave internships to young people, graduates and non-graduates. The report showed a successful outcome in that 52% of those who finished the JobBridge scheme are currently in paid employment, which is very encouraging. Some 89% of the interns felt the JobBridge scheme had given them new skills, encouraged them, had given them confidence and had assisted them in identifying job opportunities to suit their abilities. The Minister for Social Protection launched the report yesterday and what was encouraging was that it was an independent evaluation of the JobBridge scheme, which was criticised in some quarters. I always thought it was a very positive scheme and the results of that independent report bear that out.

There were reports in the media over the weekend about illegal substances being bought on the Internet. I refer, in particular, to diet pills and products previously available in head shops, which were banned in 2010. We now find those products are being bought on the Internet and are being distributed by An Post.

There was a sad story of an 18 year old girl who bought illegal diet pills online and who had to have her colon removed, having developed a life threatening illness after taking them. It is a serious issue, which is probably a customs issue. The products are being brought in and then distributed by An Post with no questions asked. From a public health policy point of view, this matter should be addressed. I acknowledge this is difficult to control but measures must be introduced to ensure such products do not get into the hands of the wrong people. They are illegal because they are dangerous.