The Government is not doing enough to promote employment at a time when massive job losses are being announced around the country, according to the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.

The Irish National Organistion for the Unemployed has described as "utter rubbish" suggestions made by the European Commission mission chief to Ireland that the phasing out of social welfare payments for the long-term unemployed should be introduced.

Job creation needs to be at the heart of any work the incoming Government does, according to the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.

The Live Register increased by 6,600 people in May, the largest monthly rise since August of last year.

There has been strong reaction to new social welfare legislation that would see a cut to the Lone Parent payment - and in the benefit to unemployed people who refuse jobs or decline to take up training offers.

The Government is being warned that it must produce a strategy to get the unemployed back to work as soon as possible.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was this morning preparing to deliver his third budget in 14 months and one that is being widely regarded as the most important of a generation.

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has called for urgent and large-scale action to address the unemployment crisis.

The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed says the provision of training and education must be a priority for people finding themselves out of work due to the recession.