Sinn Féin launches motion on jobs
At the launch today of a Sinn Féin Dáil motion to be taken in private members’ time on Tuesday and Wednesday next, Peadar Tóibín spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said:
“This government has promised much on jobs and delivered little but spin. The Labour-Fine Gael coalition has been in power for two years and we are now onto its second Action Plan for Jobs, yet unemployment continues fluctuate between 14% and 15%. The same rate as six months before the government came to power.
“Almost 60% of those unemployed have been without work for 12 months or more and our youth are offered no opportunities or hope. Emigration has a stronger impact on unemployment rates than government policy.
“The scale of the jobs and emigration crisis facing our people requires an immediate and focused investment to stimulate growth and jobs.
“We are calling for a larger scale investment to get our people back to work and to tackle the major competitiveness issues our economy faces. It is time for this government to back up rhetoric with investment. It is what our people need and what our people expect.”
ends
Full text of PMB
DÁIL ÉIREANN
Fógra Tairisceana : Notice of Motion
GNÓ COMHALTAÍ PRÍOBHÁIDEACHA
PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS
“That Dáil Éireann:
notes that:
— the disastrous economic management of the previous Fianna Fáil Government
resulted in unemployment rates rising from 5 per cent in 2008 to 13 per cent in 2009,
peaking at 14.3 per cent in September 2010; and unemployment rates have continued
at this level under the current Government;
— the rates of long-term unemployment have increased, with almost 60 per cent of all
unemployed persons out of work for more than 12 months; and the youth
unemployment level is in excess of 27 per cent; and
— the levels of emigration have increased over the past two years, with 167,000 leaving
since 2011, which equates to over 1,600 people leaving every week;
further notes:
— in 2012 almost 12,800 net full-time jobs were lost in the economy and replaced by
14,000 part-time jobs;
— the rise in underemployment, with almost one third of part-time workers seeking
additional hours;
— that the Government Action Plan on Jobs fails to have annual targets for job creation
or reductions in levels of unemployment and has failed the test of tackling
unemployment;
— the failure of bailout banks to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with
increased new lending;
— that as the largest employer, the Government has shredded 30,000 jobs, which has
undermined public services;
— that the employment crisis has a differential impact on communities across the State
and the Government has failed to address these inequalities;
— the resilience of our SME sector and our workers who have continued to work and
produce goods and services in an economy undermined by Government policy; and
— the negative impact of the border with regard to realising the economic potential of
our island;
acknowledges that the Government:
— has failed to impact, in a substantive way, on the unemployment crisis;
— has a role to play in creating and retaining jobs; and
— should fully support workers and the SME sector to promote growth and jobs; and
calls on the Government to:
— establish a jobs stimulus fund of €13 billion to reflect the scale of the crisis we face;
— target investment towards projects that will create employment, develop infrastructure
and enhance our competitiveness;— tackle barriers to competitiveness by:
— abolishing upward only rent review clauses;
— addressing excessive utility, legal and insurance costs;
— introducing progressive commercial rates; and
— combatting cartels;
— pledge that citizens are not forced into emigration by economic necessity; and to put
in place schemes that will guarantee young people jobs, training or continued
education;
— develop regional targets and budgets to promote job creation and tackle economic
inequalities; and
— work with the Northern Ireland Executive to promote an all-island approach to skills,
job creation and economic growth.” — Peadar Tóibín, Gerry Adams, Michael
Colreavy, Seán Crowe, Pearse Doherty, Dessie Ellis, Martin Ferris, Pádraig Mac
Lochlainn, Mary Lou McDonald, Sandra McLellan, Jonathan O'Brien, Caoimhghín
Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Brian Stanley.
[8 March, 2013]