‘Dole veterans’ need have no fear of a job
First of all there must be widespread consultation, followed by some legislation, and then a ‘relabelling’ process.
Let’s not hold our breath. This is a big issue and we must ensure the civil servants in labour exchanges are considered. If too many ‘customers’ of these exchanges are forced to look for work or admit that they have been working all along, there may be a surplus of public servants in these exchanges.
What are they to do?
These are the people who have been handing out our hard-earned cash without even asking their ‘customers’ what they are doing to obtain employment. Currently, a person is unemployed for six months before the Department of Social and Family Affairs refers him or her for interview with Fás.
Have they ever refused anybody, or cut him or her off?
If the Social and Family Affairs employees in the Cork city office were to look out the window, they would see the builders’ vans parked on double yellow lines on Wandesford Quay, waiting while the ‘signers on’ trot over the bridge and into the office.
The service is generally good and they are back in the vans again in less than 10 minutes.
Could it happen anywhere else except in this banana republic? Has benchmarking taught our public servants how to use their initiative or is that what they will promise to do after they receive the next round? And Mr Brennan is said to be one of our better ministers.
Noel J Collins
Firgrove Lawn
Bishopstown
Cork
