Minister Joan Burton uses 'Freedom of Information' to stop naming of 31 firms barred from JobBridge

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Minister Burton should not be using her position to protect these organisations while knowing that they have been exploitative’

THE Freedom of Information Act is being used by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton to protect the identity of 31 companies barred from the JobBridge scheme for breaching rules or safeguards, according to Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

The Sinn Féin Social Protection spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has demanded that companies abusing the JobBridge scheme be “named and shamed”.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh has submitted a number of parliamentary questions on the operation of JobBridge, companies involved, and protections for JobBridge workers.

In one Dáil question he asked the Social Protection Minister to provide the name of the companies or employers that have been barred from the JobBridge scheme – but Minister Burton cited the Freedom of Information Act and commercial sensitivity as the reason for her refusal to provide the information that he requested.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh said:

“The JobBridge scheme involves the use of significant public funds. In the over-riding public interest of democratic accountability, I believe my question should be answered.

“Minister Burton should not be using her position to protect these organisations while knowing that they have been exploitative.

“It is sad that such a response is coming from a person who claims to be a socialist. These JobBridge abusers should be named and shamed.”

The Sinn Féin TD has written to the Office of the Information Commissioner and has made a formal objection to the Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil.