IBEC calls for Minister for jobs post

The Irish Business Employers Confederation (IBEC) is today calling for the appointment of a new jobs creation Minister.

The Irish Business Employers Confederation (IBEC) is today calling for the appointment of a new Minister with responsibility for jobs creation.

IBEC says getting people back to work must be the next Government's number one priority.

The business group says there is also an urgent need to restore domestic and international confidence in Ireland.

IBEC director general Danny McCoy has said there must be a concerted effort to further drive down the cost of doing business here.

"The greatest crisis the economy is facing is the unemployment crisis. We're very focused from a business community on the jobs agenda. Government can't create jobs, but it can certainly set the conditions for businesses to get people back to work.

"So we're calling the Government to identify all policies be jobs-proofed, to try to get credit flowing again, but particularly to get business costs down, where possible."