Cowen accused of ‘throwing in towel’ on employment as dole queues swell
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore warned the figures showing 372,800 were now on the dole had spread “fear” through the country.
The register has soared by 80,000 in the past three months and almost doubled in a year.
“I don’t accept that we have to simply throw in the towel on saving jobs as you and your Government appear to be doing and accept that jobs that can be saved are going to be lost,” Mr Gilmore said during clashes at Leader’s Questions.
Mr Cowen dismissed the remarks, saying the Government was doing everything possible to protect jobs.
“This is a real concern to all of us,” he said, stating that next week’s emergency budget would outline fresh initiatives to help the unemployed.
Mr Gilmore also got into an ugly spat with Transport Minister Noel Dempsey over the threatened job losses at SR Technics.
The Labour leader demanded the Government “got off its butt” to try and save workers at the firm.
He also said the Industrial Development Authority told Labour TDs that the Department of Transport had not passed on concerns that SR Technics was in trouble to the Department of Enterprise in time.
Mr Dempsey angrily denied the charge, insisting it was a “lie”.
The company announced in February it was to close its plant at Dublin Airport and move operations to Switzerland with the loss of more than 1,100 jobs. Some 600 staff will go at the end of this week, with the remainder to lose their jobs over the coming months.
Tánaiste Mary Coughlan told the Dáil that deals to rescue at least part of the firm were being explored by Government agencies.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the unemployment crisis was largely homegrown by Fianna Fáil.
He called on the Government to cut the lower rate of VAT from 13.5% to 10% to help the struggling construction and infrastructure sectors — and offered to travel to Brussels with the Taoiseach to win EU approval for the move.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
