Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wanted to wait until everyone else had spoken because they are not directly related. I have a query regarding section 12(1)(a) regarding the substitution of "available for employment and" for "available for employment". Could the Minister explain the reason for that? Could she also tell us the criteria used by the Department to deem a person available for employment? This revisits questions I raised about the acting profession. I know the Minister has acknowledged a letter I sent to her because I indicated on Second Stage that I would write to her about this. Anecdotal evidence suggests that social welfare officers are not being flexible when it comes to those in the acting profession who are resting between positions. They are sometimes deemed not to be available for employment. It has also been brought to my attention that there are courses run for the film industry which engage not only actors but also those in the technical professions in the film industry.

This is being run by the Irish Film Board which has transferred that function from FÁS. It comes under the remit of the Department of Education and Science but the social protection dimension to the equation is that even though these courses are of short duration, I understand the Department of Social Protection will not pay them unemployment assistance during that period. I am not sure whether they are available or eligible for jobseeker's allowance. There are many questions relating to that issue but they all concern the one profession. If the Minister can shed any light on it I would be grateful but I await her more detailed reply in writing to the request I have raised.