Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

If I may suggest to the Cathaoirleach that another discussion could be arranged. I agree with Senator O'Donnell and Senator Moloney that this is a very important issue and perhaps we can agree to return to it in a couple of months when we will have more confirmation from the European Commission as to what it will commit to Ireland.

I suggest that Senators call to their local social welfare office, talk to the manager, introduce themselves, tell the manager I sent him or her and take a tour of the facilities. The Dundalk office is the local office for Senator Reilly's area. It has been fully converted as are a number of other offices in the Dublin area and in the larger cities and towns. The Senators are invited to see the system at work. They will find that the newly-converted offices provide a much better experience for clients. I hope that people are dealt with in a much more considered way with a good quality service. There is more privacy which is an important issue because people are discussing difficult issues to do with losing a job. The information system for advertisement of job vacancies means we can provide what employers want. Appropriately qualified or experienced applicants can be sent for interview because it is the employer who has the final say.