Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, it is not and I understand that completely. I have raised the issue with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, the Ceann Comhairle and others. Amazingly, we still cannot bring those people into Leinster House to give them an invaluable insight. I am talking about people who are qualified in the legal profession or political science. These are the types of people who could help us formulate ideas for job creation and to improve the economy yet we will not bring them in or allow them to be brought into Leinster House. It is doable. Leinster House is not the most secure building in the world, its not the Pentagon and these people do not pose a threat. They would have a fresh set of eyes so could introduce new and fresh ideas that we would be amazed by.

I happen to be involved with a FÁS scheme in Kenmare. It does great work but in some instances one must ask where job opportunities will come from for its participants. We are lucky to have many tourism jobs in Kerry but the work is seasonal. Obviously agriculture also provides seasonable work. Hope is the most important thing that we can give unemployed people who are in their 50s and 60s. There are some excellent initiatives. Some people have been taken off FÁS schemes and one wonders whether one should put them on another training course.

I commend the Minister on the idea of having people sign up to engage with their community which is right because citizenship is about rights and responsibilities. It is important that people in receipt of social welfare do not spend all day sitting at home watching television, as does happen. They should be out in the community. They benefit from the community so they should be of benefit to the community.