Unions ‘disappointed’ to be excluded from taskforce

TRADE unions have said they are “surprised and not a little disappointed” not to have a place on the Government’s new Innovation Taskforce.

In his description of the taskforce’s aims, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said it would advise the Government on “its strategy for positioning Ireland as an international Innovation Hub and to assist in making the Smart Economy a reality”.

However, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said the make-up of the body showed the Government was reverting to the business-led agenda which got the country into trouble in the first place.