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Justice Mary Irvine on her appointment on the Supreme Court last year. President.ie

Justice Mary Irvine to become first female President of the High Court

The judge has been nominated by government and will be appointed by President Michael D Higgins.

MS. JUSTICE MARY Irvine is to be appointed as President of the High Court, becoming the first woman to hold the role.

Her nomination has been made by the government following a consideration process involving the President of the Court of Appeal Mr. Justice George Birmingham, the Attorney General Séamus Woulfe and Jane Williams of Sia Partners.

Their recommendation was made to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan who brought it to a meeting of Cabinet today where her nomination was approved.

Justice Irvine will now be appointed as President of High Court by President Michael D Higgins. Her appointment will following the retirement of the current President, Mr. Justice Peter Kelly, on 18 June.

Justice Irvine was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 2007, the Court of Appeal in 2018 and last year the Supreme Court.

In 2018 she was also appointed to chair the government’s tribunal to deal with claims arising from the CervicalCheck scandal.

Prior to her judicial career, Irvine practice as a barrister from 1978 following education at  Sacred Heart, Mount Anville, University College Dublin and the Honourable Society of King’s Inns.

Her nomination has today welcomed by Law Society President Michele O’Boyle who described Irvine as “an outstandingly able judge”.

“She will bring the qualities of independence, deep legal knowledge and insight that have characterised her distinguished career as a judge,” O’Boyle said.

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    Mute Alexander of Dublin
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:19 AM

    18 month ‘internship’? 18 months is not an internship… 3 months, at a stretch 6 months (and that would only be in exceptional cases). Anything else is just free labour. 18 months is almost an apprenticeship – with the difference being that with an apprenticeship you come out of it with a usable skill with time and money being invested by the company offering the apprenticeship.

    Why on earth would a company hire someone when they can get an employee (in all but name & wages) for nothing for a year and a half? It’s a horrible, cynical idea aimed at massaging the live register numbers enough to make J. Burton et al look good on paper. Shame on them for playing with people’s lives like this.

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    Mute Aidan
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:54 AM

    On a 9 month one myself. Seems ridiculously long for what I’m doing but I needed to get my foot in the door because apparently qualifying at something in college no longer proves you have an ability to perform.

    Plus I’m doing a 37 hour week that I should at least receive minimum wage for.

    Done a month already and not seen a washer extra from the social too. Extra costs for work clothes, travel etc is not fun with no extra money.

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:26 PM

    Upmost respect for trying and not sitting back on your arse Aidan . But this is my problem with Jobsbridge this is exactly who it targets. People who don’t want to be on the dole people who want to be working and paying their way. These people like yourself are not the problem with our social welfare system they will continue trying and will eventually succeed at getting their working life/career back on track. It’s the 150,000 people that were on the dole when we had ‘full employment’ and are still on it nearly 7 years later.
    Jobsbridge in its current form amounts to slave labour. Slave labour supported by government and even labour they use themselves by proxy via the IDA EPA and HSE. All looking for qualified people. Makes me sick.

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    Mute Aidan
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Thanks Bilbo.

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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:22 AM

    Internship is internship when you’re being trained to learn a skill with the promise of employment afterwards. Internship is not internship when expected to do unskilled work for nothing. I believe that’s called slavery.

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    Mute Bob Coggins
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:36 AM

    No, an internship provides training and development for a candidate, and allows an employer evaluate the candidates potential to bring value to the business, without the promise of a fulltime job.
    Our job bridge intern from this year just walked into a full time role with Google, and he credited the experience gained with us as the main attribute that secured the role. Proving that this works.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:36 AM

    And not a whisper from the opposition party’s.

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    Mute WanderArch
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:00 AM

    It doesn’t work, anyone who tells you it does is deluded
    A much better approach would be to train and upskill those already in work. That way, you’re actually getting a return for your investment, and the up skilled can move on, creating a need for those on the live register.
    This is concentrating on something where the return is minimal (the state meets most of the cost, the employer adds €50, and the employee comes out with no formal training, and the possibility of getting work being next to none).
    There are no jobs, and the jobs that there are – an 18mth “internship” sure as hell ain’t gonna prepare you for them.
    This is nonsense, concentrate your efforts on those in work, those in college, those in school – the rest will look after itself.

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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:05 AM

    Perhaps I got the lines blurred between an internship and an apprenticeship, but I’m sure it can be forgiven since JobBridge blurs the line between those and employment so often. I’m sure there are some success stories and good on them (though I’ve yet to hear from one first hand?) but it’s shown itself to be a farce time and time again. Internship on a deli counter, anybody? Y’know, in case you’re not familiar with the valuable workplace skill of buttering bread and need some help learning that one…

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    Mute Niall Kelly
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:08 AM

    The employer actually adds no money.Believe it or not but it’s the state that adds the extra 50Euro.Zero buy in by the company!

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    Mute Shane Walsh Pics
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:09 AM

    Well said Bob, each of those red thumbs you got represents and idiot.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:12 AM

    Takes one to know one Shane ;-)

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    Mute Bob Coggins
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:22 AM

    Wander arch – I just gave you a perfect example of how an unemployed social welfare recipient turned himself into a fully paid google employee by using Jobbridge. We needed the help, couldn’t afford it, but were delighted to provide guidance and plenty of hard work. It works. I’m gonna advertise the role again today now that the cooling off period is abolished. You’re welcome to come and see how a functioning workplace contributes to the economy first hand Bronagh…

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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:33 AM

    Bob you’re citing 1 first hand example as proof that a generally failed system can work. Even the most naive person on the planet must surely see that there’s an issue with Tesco taking on Jobridge interns to stack shelves. I think the concept is fantastic and should be implemented but the roles involved cannot be allowed to be roles that require no skill and provide absolutely no training or benefit to the intern. Your company sounds like it’s done a fine job but as they say 1 swallow doesn’t make a summer and from the majority of (admittedly) anecdotal evidence there’s very little success for people on these schemes.

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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:34 AM

    I know how a functioning workplace contributes to the economy; my family business has been pumping taxes into it for the past 30 or so years. You may step down off your high horse any time you see fit.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:51 AM

    Bob if you needed the help but couldn’t afford it. How were you able to afford to give them full time employment afterwards ???

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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:04 AM

    He said that they are now working for Google. Which leads me to wonder: was their internship in any way related to their current job?

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    Mute Bob Coggins
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:41 AM

    @Simon – read the post before trying to manipulate the facts, it’ll make for better arguing.
    @ Bronagh – same goes for you. Except you’re clever enough to ‘wonder’ aloud instead of directly accusing us of mis-training the hapless intern. Of course the role here was relevant, I have stated that it was the key factor in the candidate securing the job. I have no reason to make this up, he came back to visit us and thank us, and relay the good news, and I’m relaying it to you. Perhaps your family business could look at doing something similar given their fine pedigree, clearly visible from up here on my high horse.
    I would love to see some balanced arguments on here regarding Jobbridge, as for the most part it seems to be people with very little first hand experience bar seeing ridiculous job placements on Broadsheet. I dont condone these, but if they are being filled, then someone, somewhere is glad of the opportunity, and luckily the democratic process of The Journal doesn’t have the right to prevent them from gaining what they see as relevant experience. And it is up to the candidate to agree the length and terms, this isn’t conscription.

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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:02 AM

    Bob, you’re the only one on the attack here. In reply to your original reply, I acknowledged that there may be some successes (again, no first hand stories of these applicants though, would genuinely love to hear from somebody). You’re the one refusing to acknowledge OBVIOUS abuses of JobBridge. You then get personal towards me by implying I know nothing about a business contributing to the economy. Instead of accepting that you were wrong on this, you’re now further embarrassing yourself. It was a legitimate “wonder” since you never specified what your company does; I wasn’t accusing you of anything. Your pettiness and defence speaks volumes.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:02 AM

    Bob if you read all the posts on here, Yours seems to be the only success story. Read on and you’ll see loads of scams being executed at the expense of peoples lives. And the biggest scam by the government to manipulate their employment figures. Just because you saw someone get a job does not mean by any large leap of the imagination that “Jobbrigde” is a great idea and is working. In fact without directly speaking to google how do you know that it was Jobbridge that was the main factor, and not that he dressed well or had good interview etiquette, or turned up on time, or all the other candidates were just crap,

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    Mute Jj O Hara
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:15 AM

    It is good see your promoting Jobbridge for your party

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    Mute Leah Freeman
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:16 AM

    Ohhhhh Bob!! Stir it up. Lol ;-)

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    Mute Ann McGuckin
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:24 AM

    So Bob, when’s your company going to offer full paid employment to the Jobsbridge intern, or do you plan to continuously use Jobsbridge to lower your own overheads? Maybe you should be asking yourselves whether your business is viable if you cannot afford to pay your employees.

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    Mute Dublinjonny
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:34 PM

    Bob as good as that sounds and well done to all involved but that is im afraid an exception to whats going on , if people learn new skills and can get a foot in the door then the program works , however 18 months is not an internship in any shape or form , a qualified teacher fresh out of college being offered 12 months internship is not acceptable nor is a 9 month internship on a deli counter . I know of a company just a fresh start up with no money looking for 5 interns for no other reason than free labour , these companies need to be screened much better . I support internships if it can benefit both the company and the individual , but internships like this are vary rare on jobbridge in fact im willing to guess the genuine companies stay away from jobbridge . No skilled person should be asked to work for free with nothing to gain and just a quick look at some of the internships listed some are looking for a min of 2 years experience now what is the purpose of that to anyone . Internships work … jobbridge dosnt is a corrupt joke

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    Mute Tús Nua
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:55 PM

    It may work in some cases but a lot of employers keep hiring new interns instead of creating proper jobs the whole system doesnt work the way it should and by extending the time length is jus further proof this coalition hasnt got a clue how to create proper jobs

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    Mute Johan Bergman
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    Sep 19th 2013, 3:13 PM

    @ Bob, Looks like you have a steady supply of free workers then for the near future but don’t kid yourself that this is great just because of your situation. Your intern got a job with Google so he must have been doing skilled work and learned on the job but the majority of these positions are unskilled or require people to run the business for employers i.e managers. Surely employers that are getting people with degrees and/or years of experience can fork out a little bit on top to make the situation better for the workers, even if it’s to cover for the added expense of getting to and from work, lunches, etc..The €50 extra does not cut it, it works out at €10 for a full days work which equals slave labour.

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    Mute Bob Coggins
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    Sep 19th 2013, 3:35 PM

    Hey Johan, all, its not ‘great’ by any stretch, but it does allow us to grow and meet seasonal demand, and contrary to insinuations above, our intention is to grow and create more full time and part time jobs – which we are doing. And the work was skilled and diverse, and secured the role, no questions.

    I agree completely on the incentives, and would be happy to supplement the dole with €50/100 for this type of assistance – but this is currently not what you are supposed to do. I do know of places where supplementary ‘expenses’ are provided, and this is only a sensible for a business who wants to retain a valued intern for the full period permissible.
    Perhaps the business should contribute on a sliding scale, starting at €50 and working towards the full cost of the dole over a period of 6-12 months would be an even better incentive for business to take interns seriously, and integrate them into their long term plans.
    I’m not saying Jobbridge is ideal, but its certainly afforded a start to some who may not otherwise have had the door back into employment opened for them.

    Any better suggestions?

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    Mute Alan Sheppard
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    Sep 19th 2013, 7:23 PM

    Simon, I think you will find Sinn Fein have spoken out about the job bridge scheme on many occasions and rightly so. Companies and even government agencies are using this scheme to hire free staff while the government themselves look good due to live register figures being down. It’s all a farce.

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    Mute Aisling Farrell
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    Sep 20th 2013, 11:21 PM

    Bob,
    If he was good enough for google why did you not offer to keep him on? Was it cos you’d have to actually pay him!?

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    Mute Anthony Cole
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:13 AM

    Unbelievable. This government will do anything to massage the unemployment figures. Papering over the cracks.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:06 AM

    After a lot or expensive research and advice from their heavily over paid advisors. They found that the 9 month “internship” was not soul destroying enough to make people really consider emigrating.

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    Mute Matt
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:45 AM

    Between Jobsbridge and the thousnds on Fas courses the live register would be a lot higher. Add the tens of thousands that left the country unemployment rate would be 25% plus. It’s crazy the amount of construction courses available on the Fas website. Train you up and ship you out.

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    Mute davidsheridan32
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:17 AM

    The maximum term of internship increased from nine months to 18 months? Surely this is just another delay in getting into actual employment within an organisation? This is nothing short of a disgusting manipulation of the unemployed. A real two fingers to people who are genuinely going out of their way to claw their way back into employment. They should be reducing the term and not increasing it!
    Massaging live register figures seem to be of much more importance than getting people back into ‘real’ employment! Shocking and frustrating as usual but very sadly, unsurprising.

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    Mute Johnny Reynolds
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:54 AM

    How is the HSE allowed to avail of jobsbridge when they have an employment embargo

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:50 PM

    Because they pay nothing for the interns. It’s truly disgraceful.

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    Mute Conor O' Runaidh
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    Sep 19th 2013, 7:49 PM

    This is what gets me:

    http://tinyurl.com/petmzko

    Advertising for a teacher, a qualified teacher to come into a school and teach pupils under jobsbridge. We all know that teacher will be used as an in-house sub in that when a teacher is absent they will get the intern to cover. The teacher on sick will get a cert, the school will get the money used to pay a substitute and use that towards their bills. Also, hiring people in menial labour jobs such as cleaners, fancying it up saying “Will learn valuable skills in communication, using industrial cleaners etc. It’s just a way of saying “we need a cleaner but want to save money and get an intern” or “we need staff but the government have an embargo on new staff”.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:12 AM

    Scam.

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    Mute Imelda Burke Coleman
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:48 AM

    Slave labour… These internships were supposed to be for graduates to gain experience when introduced… My local deli counter has two and they didn’t graduate from any deli counter degree course !!!!!

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    Mute Rodger O Waters
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:21 AM

    Scambags, the frauds raided PRIVATE pensions to fund this farce, and I want my money back with interest, go raid Bertie and Biffo’s pension troughs mayo leprauchan.

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    Mute Laura Bury
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:57 AM

    They’ve also increased the number of internships you can do to 3. So that’s four-and-a-half years of free labour available per person. You’d get less for armed robbery. And at least then you’d get free food and shelter.

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    Mute Patrick Shelton
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:51 AM

    Slave labour & exploitation of peoples fears rolled up into one nice 18month package…jobbridge.Disgusting.

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:44 AM

    14 months of college classes gets you an advanced cert. 18 months on jobbridge gets you?

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    Mute WanderArch
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:01 AM

    SFA.

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:48 AM

    Wonderarch. Exactly my answer!

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    Mute Solbank Sabadell
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:30 PM

    I don’t think I would hire some one who was stupid enough to work for free for 18 months!!! Would you they would have to be fair thick!!!

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    Mute gumbridge
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:32 AM

    If those on Job Bridge “internships” are not counted on the live register then this move stinks to high heaven.

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    Mute macca
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:29 AM

    That’s disgraceful! I know a lad doing one at the moment, qualified in college but can’t get a proper job and he’s on a Little small wage working in a full time job doing one of these

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    Mute Ceara Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:03 AM

    A friend of mine recently took up an internship in reception of a chain hotel. She was told from the start that they would not offer her a job afterwards as the internship is to cover the post due to the original full-time member being on maternity leave.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:08 AM

    Surely that should have been reported if it were true. That’s pure abuse of the system by the employer.

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    Mute Garrett Moran
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:33 AM

    Terms of the scheme require the intern not to be filling any vacancy!

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    Mute Ceara Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:29 AM

    When it was advertised there was no mention of covering for a staff member. It was only revealed once she had taken the internship place and started working. Tbh she needs the money as she is going to emigrate with her daughter once the internship is complete

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    Mute Ceara Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:53 AM

    And at the end of the day who is going to report it. The company will not report themselves and she won’t report them out of fear of losing the chance to gain some more experience and the extra money every week.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:36 AM

    Gimme the name of them and I’ll report them.

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    Mute Ceara Butler
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:59 AM

    I’m sure there are some success stories but there is more than just one company abusing the system.

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    Mute Ian Mac Eochagáin
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    May 6th 2014, 11:22 PM

    That is one heartbreaking story! A mother with a child to support spends her last few months in her native country being exploited by an employer breaking the law. Tragic and sickening.

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    Mute Anne-Marie Neligan
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:46 AM

    You have got to be kidding me? Statistics show Jobsbridge is a complete disaster. Participants aren’t being offered jobs after and in recent weeks I’ve noticed companies with no permanent staff taking on interns. What hope do the majority of them have of being able to offer people full time positions after? They just keep digging that hole!

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    Mute Paul Reilly
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:04 AM

    50e on top of benefits equals 238e for doing a full weeks work for a company,slave labour.why should anyone be forced to do a full weeks work for that?,plus coming closer to a general election it’s an attempt to massage live register figures.its outrageous.how about Jenny and burton take pay and pension cuts!!!!

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    Mute Cillian Adamson
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:35 AM

    Some people get as low as €80 on the dole mate, so add the extra €50 and well…you see

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    Mute Ryan'O
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:56 AM

    Go lower again killian. €43.20 is the grand total my neighbour gets for contributing 15 years of tax and prsi. €90 for a full weeks work wouldn’t even cover the cost for him to get to it! It’s slave labour to drive down the live register figures nothing more.

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    Mute Dublinjonny
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    Sep 19th 2013, 7:19 PM

    42.50 working all my life and paying tax … went to college just finished up last week , traveling up to dublin everyday and course expenses not 1 extra euro . They can cut me off if they want

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    Mute YourName
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:34 AM

    FG showing us they’re worse than anything Thatchers Tories could dream up. Absolute animals. This state should be torn apart and rebuilt. In blood if necessary. What do we do about it? Mock and decry those who would stand against the corruption. A true confederacy of dunces. Too many years feasting on not the fat of the land but the greasy trans-fats of EU subsidised credit have left no belly for the fight. A few more years at the ever emptying trough is required to wake up.

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    Mute Marie Carroll
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:33 AM

    This is shocking…. What a complete mess…

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    Mute ckr00
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:09 AM

    JobBridge is modern day slavery. Is there no depths to how far this Govt will go. Disgraceful.

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    Mute Chopstix
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:24 AM

    This is the troika’s call enda is just a go between for us and them we don’t have a government we have a management team that implement the policy of the troika.

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    Mute David Lacey
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:29 AM

    When I finished an IT degree in 2011 many of my classmates got work immediately however I entered a master’s programme. When I applied to similar positions the following year I was directed to the Jobsbridge site by a number of companies. One company actually pulled a position I applied for and then rang me to see if I was eligible for jobsbridge where they had recently added a number of internships. I’m working now, I just want to tell people in the same boat to hang on if they can there’s still employers out there who won’t take advantage.

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    Mute Jazz O'Gorman
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    Sep 19th 2013, 8:45 AM

    This should be viewed from an international perspective, nobody would believe such a thing as existed, you’ll never beat the Irish.

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    Mute Dayna Marie O' Reilly
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:28 AM

    It’s ridiculous when I was on the dole after being made redundant I wasn’t eligible to the internship they said I was over qualified . Amd then when I did get one there was no child care as all the places had been taken up with people on the dole long term. This country and their job bridge are a joke there are so many jobs out there but they are advertised as interns . One job yesterday was for am office manager intern. . Absolutely ridiculous the companies hiring them are just as bad

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:00 AM

    Sure the lap gate TD has a job scam person working in his business,If I was ever forced to do one if these scams I would rightly f**k it up.
    That they show me the door as the saying goes a man willing to work for nothing will never be idle.

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    Mute Anita McCluskey
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:29 AM

    I applied for a job 3 weeks ago and didn’t hear anything back. Same job was back up yesterday as an internship. Yesterday alone, I seen internships for shop assistants, classroom assistant, a yard assistant, a maintenance mam’s assistant and a sandwich artist. All this scam does is fiddle the figures and gives companies free labour. It’s a joke!!

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    Mute David Lacey
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    Sep 19th 2013, 2:35 PM

    Same for me when I was applying for positions, they disappear for a bit and the company goes for free labour. I heard of one place that had a transition year student, final year 3rd level student, a jobs bridge person and the person who owned the company. That was the entire staff.

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    Mute Paul Reilly
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:14 AM

    Who in there rite mind can think that somebody can survive on that form of pay when you take out rent and travel expenses and food and possible medical expenses,50e on top of benefits for a full weeks work!!.some of theses schemes work fair enough but In my opinion it’s slave labour,honest weeks work needs honesty weeks pay

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    Mute Susan
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:40 AM

    All kinds of wrong- imagine working beside a colleague who is doing more or less the same job and getting paid €35-€40k for the same job.And your getting €50 extra a week on top of the soul destroying dole.All kinds of wrong

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    Mute Graham Browne
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:44 AM

    Job bridge = Slave labour

    Irelands attempt to make anything work! = Joke

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    Mute Michelle Mc Loughney
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:33 AM

    18 months. Great. It would take a full 18 months to learn the art of cutting chips in a chipper in Ennistymon. Jobsbridge me hole.

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    Mute Stephen McMahon
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:23 AM

    I think jobsbridge works but these changes are cynical in the extreme. Bald face messaging of unemployment numbers. Jobsbridge should he short (3-6 months) and should lead to a job or a good reason given for not taking on that person. Also limited to a maximum of 9 months in any 2 year period per person.

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    Mute Francis Dunne
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:12 AM

    The fact that people are being allowed to do a third internship is proof that the scheme is failing. surely if it was a success a third run at it would not be necessary.

    I also note from yesterday a website and a subsequent leaflet from Wexford County Enterprise Board promoting a seminar on how to use government schemes to reduce labour costs. WCEB claimed last night that the website was a “mistake” though.

    Both the JobBridge scheme and jobplus discriminate against people with disabilities. further proof that these schemes were created to manipulate live register figures rather than offer work to people who want it.

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    Mute RB
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:27 AM

    So now those that are looking for real work can be a Slave for longer?

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    Mute Ann Glasgow
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:57 AM

    all i can say that this jobridge scam is soul destroying for all involved. i have read the comments and it shows that there is no moral compass with these companies that do this sort of thing to another human being. bruton and her buddies should be MADE take pay cuts of at least 50%. it made me sick to see what was spent on booze in the dail and this crowd didnt even flintch when the truth came out! the likes os Tesco etc should not be allowed to apply for these internships but again as a nation we are allowing especially Tesco take over our towns and cities and we will end up with ugly buildings, corporate power etc dictating how we live, eat and breath. tesco is now builing homes in the uk over their retail outlets …this will happen here as well. we all give out but we do nothing …..each day i listen to the news and read these blogs it becomes more real that this country is finished!

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    Mute Divine Sugar
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:33 PM

    They’re also still being advertised as ‘job incentive schemes’. JobBridge is not a job incentive scheme, it’s a ‘national internship scheme’.

    The only way this scheme would work is if there is a screening process by the Department of Social Protection prior to posting these positions or a transparent way of reporting them on the site such as the ‘report’ button available on so many other sites with a reviewer. This with monitoring of the internships could legitimize short term internships. It’s being completely hijacked by employers who think they can abuse recipients of social welfare and the Department of Social Protection.

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    Mute Divine Sugar
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:36 PM

    Sorry, stupid phone that wasn’t a reply to your comment rather one made about Wexford Enterprise Centre advertising JobBridge as a way to reduce labour costs then editing their advertisement but still referring to the scheme as a ‘job incentive scheme’ for SMEs

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    Mute Aisling Kenny
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:27 AM

    I think its great that the government are trying to reskill the unemployed but clearly this scheme isnt working!! I mean who really needs to intern as a cleaner or deli assistant & what benefit does this even have for the intern? Clearly all who benefits in some of these posts are the company who are getting heavilly discounted & basically free labour which must be breaking min wage laws. As a recent graduate I have also noticed very few entry level or graduate positions out there now as they are all going into jobbridge!! Instead of paying 25,000 a year they can get interns for 50 euro a week which is totally unfair & again benefiting the company & not graduates. #jobbridgeisnotasolution

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:40 AM

    Also if someone is doing work like cleaning and deli service for free who’s going to care how good or bad they’re doing. Maybe people should take up these positions and show these employers the meaning of ‘get what you pay for’. It would be fascinating to see how long someone could just turn up late, doss before they get let go, that is if they do get fired.

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    Mute David Lacey
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    Sep 19th 2013, 6:46 PM

    I don’t think the company pays that extra fifty either. You can’t blame a small business for using jobsbridge, I think they could give someone a lot of experiences as well. I don’t think a bigger established company should be left use it though.

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    Mute Sharon Clifford
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:02 AM

    I think it works in some cases…. My friend did one last year and I thought ” slave labour ” etc however on the back of it she went for another job interview few weeks ago ( same job description different place) and because of the experience she now has a full time job and is off the dole!

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    Mute Andy Christian
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:30 AM

    Is it still the case that “total cumulative time cannot exceed 9 months (39 weeks)”? I did what turned out to be a rewarding 6 month long internship last year, but was still not able to find full time work and had thought I might do a second internship but can’t because of the time limits.
    It’s crap to see how many jobs that I would apply for are either CE or Job bridge and I can’t apply either because I’m not on the dole long enough or have already done an Internship.
    Very real possibility that I’ll emigrate after Christmas.

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    Mute Emma Corkery
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:06 AM

    I did a six month internship and during that time applied for a second one. I was told by the civil servant at my inspection that there was no point in going for the interview for the second position because I wouldn’t be elligible or that there was no point because why would they take me on for 3 months if they can take on some one for 9 months. I ignored her advice, rang jobbridge, they said that that would be no problem to do a 3 month one, I went for the interview, managed to pass it and got the 3 month internship. The first place I did my internship at has taken me on part-time while I complete my second internship. Apply for the internships, go for the interviews and you never know, you could get lucky. JobBridge is working for me, I got part-time employment from it and am still gaining experience in my second internship! The extension to 18 months would actually really beneficial to get as much experience as possible even if the money does suck! I’m not sure if any of that helps, but I just thought I’d let you know that it is possible to go for it.

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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:21 AM

    Think you said it all there Emma with “Apply for the internships, go for the interviews and you never know, you could get lucky”

    Is that what the scam is about. getting lucky. Thought is was about getting experience.

    sure why not the government just hand out lotto tickets. you could just get luck there too .

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    Mute Andy Christian
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    Sep 19th 2013, 1:04 PM

    Ah right just read it again, so now I could do a second one if I wanted, as the time limit has been push up to 18 months so that’s two 9 month internships or three 6 month ones at least they go thier division right this time :). Would have been nice if this had come in a few months ago not much going where I am based now.
    It is definitely affecting how many real jobs there are. What was maybe a part time job before is now an internship.

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    Mute Ann McGuckin
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    Sep 19th 2013, 11:30 AM

    If the scheme has been so successful in enabling participants to move in to paid employment after completing six or nine months, why would there be the need to increase the maximum number that a person can do to three internships, let alone the time duration to eighteen months?

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    Mute fleetingwhim
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:01 PM

    Some basic questions this article could have asked instead of just parroting government press releases as per usual and then adding one line at the end about how some people have objected to the scheme, however, without giving any details. Lazy, establishment mouthpiece churnalism.

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:55 AM

    kenny is the leader of Vichy irish government

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Sep 19th 2013, 10:16 AM

    I would think that someone who needs to do more than one Jobbridge placement is in need of help. Obviously placement number one didn’t teach them much and whoever provided it should be removed from the scheme.

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    Mute Johan Bergman
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    Sep 19th 2013, 2:39 PM

    Jobsbridge has got a really bad rep and rightly so. Employers should at the very least give 50 or 100 euro for the weeks work they are getting in return. Something for chr*st sake!!! A lot of the positions are for skilled workers who will learn nothing on the job and will probably be the ones teaching. I’ve seen jobs like hotel manager and on the other side of the scale “car valeting assistant”, like it is going to take nine months to learn how to clean a car. The worse thing is that it is our own people, the employers, who are screwing us. Don’t get me wrong some of the positions are good but I would say they only represent about 10%. Just goes to show how desperate we have become.

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 19th 2013, 9:39 AM

    4years job bridge =no pay for little guy,4year a ta = life pension makes good maths you work for them

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    Mute Ann Glasgow
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    Sep 19th 2013, 1:14 PM

    @andrew o callaghan, what law? as far as i can see the law only protects those that can bury their way out of things, every employment law in the country is being broken in favour of the the abusers and the general sentiment among employers at the moment is YOU KNOW WHERE THE DOOR IS/ VERY EASY TO REPLACE YOU. my grandson working for a company …he reported broken equipment to boss and refused to use it….was on a weeks holidays(unpaid) and got his p45 in post yesterday and employer wont talk to him face to face and told him there is nothing he can do….he is only 20yrs old and was working 45hours a week for €200 employers like this government can do what they want!

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    Mute Ann Glasgow
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    Sep 19th 2013, 1:16 PM

    error should be BUY their way…..

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    Mute Ollie Bagnall
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    Sep 19th 2013, 2:46 PM

    I took up 1 of the internships and mine was for 9 months, now probably could have learnt everything in a shorter time but I wanted the experience and would have been happy to finish the 9 months The problems I had were having to wait nearly 2 months for my extra €50 which they wouldn’t back date and then when my other half got part time work of 21hrs per week I was cut to €80 + the extra €50. My travel to and from the internship cost me €55 + lunch and I had to buy my own work wear and tools needed for the job. After 5 months of struggling to survive on less than minimum dole for a couple I had to with regret leave my internship as I could not continue to struggle with no money to get trained. I really liked my internship and felt I was learning all aspects of the business and when I had to leave I felt I was letting my employers down. Along with the banks calling me almost daily looking for their money and a trip to the doctors for depression I felt I had no choice but leave as I was financially better off at home on the dole(not a decision I made lightly as I’ve worked all my life). I know I was not getting paid but I was delighted to get the free training as my only other option was to pay for the training so the internship saved me over €3,000 in training costs its just a pity the gov felt I was earning too much as an intern and cut my money forcing me to leave

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    Mute Andrew O'Callaghan
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    Sep 19th 2013, 12:47 PM

    Jobbridge is a disgrace and should never have being allowed… Sure enough it gets people out of the house to do some work but it also has people working for less than minimum wage… Which is against employment law

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    Mute Alfie Bonney
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    Sep 20th 2013, 5:54 AM

    It’s a scam, I did one received no training, my skills as an a electrician were exploited for thousands of euros of work,
    I then had a accident as I was given no safety training or the right safety clothing I’m now out injured and they just replace me with another one..

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    Mute Dave Patrick
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    Sep 20th 2013, 1:04 AM

    Over 50yrs old unemployed since March,trying to find full time work,that will pay rent,etc. Internships won’t work for me,who would want a silver Fox on internship,its hard enough trying to get employers to respond!
    Ageism! What is Joan Burton going to do about the older unemployed?
    By the time this country gets out of recession,which despite reports it is still in,it will be too late for the likes of me and other older unemployed.
    Internships are another way of massaging the jobless figures,the same way as our emigrate,more move off the live register.
    So how about it Joan,time to help the older unemployed!

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    Mute Emilio
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    Sep 19th 2013, 2:28 PM
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    Mute Eoin Walsh
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    Oct 8th 2013, 3:08 PM

    Wow didn’t know that JobBridge and the Lads in the Dail were in the Slave Trade

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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Jan 21st 2014, 9:31 AM

    A very good friend of mine and a very decent hard worker is coming to the end of his internship. He used all his own resources and put them at the disposal of the job and partook in all and every extra activity. Certain tasks were not outlined as his job yet he volunteered when asked and was happy to do it. Now this is coming to an end and all he has been told is the organization cannot employ him because they have no funds. This is a disgrace.

    He spent 5 years in college for his qualifications and has worked for the last ten years improving his skills and getting valuable experience. He has given 200 per cent to this job and now faces being let go. he was never even asked or consulted on the possibility of getting employment there and they say they desperately need him and are piling on the work before he leaves. I feel so sorry for him. It is nothing short of torture going back to the dole office. This jobridge is soul destroying. It offers false hope and raises your expectations only to dash them to the ground. He is so depressed now facing unemployment again. It is beyond me why the people of Ireland are allowing the government to do this and exploit their own young people. Businesses pay nothing, zero to these workers and in affect they have no rights at all as regards their own future.

    No surprise to me thousands are emigrating weekly. This government is despicable.

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