Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We need to not talk about people and what they would like. To be clear, it is the case that people usually find employment within 12 or 14 weeks. That is why what we are asking people in those first three or four months is bizarre. At that time, they probably are trying to do their own work to find new employment or are thinking about their next options. Instead, we will create work for the system to require them to come to meetings and come up with plans and to require them to risk their payment if they say "No" to whatever has been brainstormed for them by another. If most people find employment in the first four months, we surely do not need to be inserting these hardline compulsory direct activation measures in the first four months.