Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, too, would like to be associated with the tributes to Jody and thank her for all her work on behalf of this House.

Senator Darragh O'Brien referred to the Seanad count. As a new Member, I found the counts of parcels and sub-parcels and the inside and outside rules all very confusing.

It was very confusing and a lot tougher than the old tallies that happened in count centres at a general election. This is my first time in an elected position and I have been fortunate to have the benefit of Ms Deirdre Lane and Ms Jody Blake who assist us and try to keep manners on us at times. I wish Jody well in her early retirement.
Three other matters of note have also happened this week. Youth Work Ireland week runs until 13 April and many of us attended the briefing in Buswell's Hotel yesterday. EU Commissioner Andor held a high level conference on the youth guarantee in Brussels on Tuesday, and President Higgins addressed the Guildhall banquet in London last night. In his address, the President said:

... it is the ordinary people of Ireland, and generations yet to come, who have borne and continue to bear the cost of the painful decisions that have been taken ... In the end, it is how our respective peoples experience the result of our action or inaction that is the test of the quality of our decisions ... The human cost of the financial crisis has been enormous. While unemployment is receding in Ireland, it remains too high and the emigration of our young people is a challenge to our future prosperity. It is clear to us in Ireland that providing opportunity for our young people, and harnessing their talents, will be the true measure of our recovery.

On 5 February, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, addressed this House on the youth guarantee. She requested the Cathaoirleach to arrange another discussion on the issue a few months later to get an update on the progress made by the European Commission. In light of the conference held in Brussels on Tuesday - which I was fortunate to attend and heard a presentation by the youth guarantee policy co-ordinator for Ireland - it is important to schedule another debate with the Minister on that issue as soon as we can.
Some of the outstanding issues remaining include the starting point for young people who are not registered with public employment services. Essentially, those young people are effectively disengaged from the mainstream. As many of us pointed out in the last debate, and as Youth Work Ireland indicated yesterday, the youth guarantee implementation plan does not mention a role for youth organisations. A footnote on page 15 merely states that the idea could be explored, but that is not acceptable.
A number of weeks ago, I travelled to Brussels to meet the youth guarantee policy officer in the Commission. It was made clear that the editing and alteration of the implementation plan is at the Government's discretion and the Commission will not be making recommendations on it. It is therefore up to us, having listened to the concerns of those who will be affected by this plan, to lobby the Minister for changes to improve the plan for the young people of Ireland.
As it stands, the plan will not be evaluated until the end of 2015. Funding for the guarantee is for the period 2014 to 2015, so the evaluation will only be made at the very end which is far too late. Some of the glaring deficiencies should be remedied now before funding is committed, spent or has expired. Leaving it until the end of 2015 or beyond is akin to closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. The youth guarantee will not be as sexy as the PAC, so media outlets will not flock here to listen to the debate. However, if we do not get this right now there is a danger that it could be a damp squib. We could have worse social repercussions in future when there will be no point in Members of the Oireachtas scratching their heads about what they could or should have done, when they have the opportunity to do something now. I ask the Leader to take up the request of the Minister, Deputy Burton, for us to schedule a further discussion on the youth guarantee.