IMF: Irish jobless levels are staggering

Ministers have dismissed troika calls to do more to cut the live register after the IMF described Ireland’s mass unemployment levels as “staggering”.

A report from the global financial organisation said that when under-employed people were counted, the jobless figure stood at 23%.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan tried to shoot down the figure as he cited two job creation moves taken by the Government — water metering and the Taoiseach’s numerous foreign trips.