Brendan Howlin, TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform participates in Job Shadow Day, Wednesday 24 April 2013
Mr. Brendan Howlin, TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, officially marked the sixth annual Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE) Job Shadow Day, taking place today Wednesday 24th. Ms. Amanda McAllister shadowed the Minister and among other appointments, attended Leaders’ Questions and the Second Stage Seanad Debate on the National Lottery Bill, where the Minister welcomed her on the floor of the House.
Job Shadow Day is the highlight of IASE National Supported Employment Week and sees hundreds of individuals with disabilities throughout Ireland take the opportunity to shadow a workplace mentor as he or she goes through a normal working day. Hundreds of employers throughout Ireland are involved.
A number of high profile individuals are taking part in Job Shadow Day including An Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Minister Joan Burton; RTÉ’s Derek Mooney; Today FM’s Ray D’Arcy, Celebrity Chef, Neven Maguire, Kildare senior football manager Kieran Mc Geeney; Minister Leo Varadkar; presenter and journalist Brendan O’Connor; Prime Time’s Richard Crowley; Senator David Norris and adventurer Mark Pollock.
Job Shadow Day is designed to give people with disabilities the unique opportunity to get a close up look at the world of work for one day or one week in April each year to discover and learn about the skills and education required to compete and succeed in the work place. Now in its 6th year, the experience provided on Job Shadow Day has proven to be invaluable for employers, workers and people with disabilities involved.
Commenting on the initiative, Minister Howlin said, “It was a real pleasure to meet Amanda today. Job Shadow Day is an extremely worthwhile initiative. Every person has the right to live their lives to their fullest potential and the work of the IASE is very valuable in this regard.”
Asked how she enjoyed her time in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Amanda responded, “I met so many interesting people and was busy all day. The best part was the tour of the Dáil.”
Ends
24 April, 2013

