Benefits of Anglo deal must tackle jobs slump, says Burton

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has warned the troika that the benefits of the Anglo promissory note deal must go into battling unemployment.

Ms Burton brushed aside suggestions that the bailout chiefs are uneasy at Labour’s push to use the money freed up by the agreement to soften the impact of this year’s budget.

“I think the troika, no more than myself, must be very, very aware of the difficult news that unemployment in the eurozone countries is at 11% and overall in the EU at 10%,” said Ms Burton. “They are shockingly high figures, and in Ireland it’s 14.6%.”