Welfare system in need of overhaul, Taoiseach tells Fine Gael conference

Mass unemployment is in danger of becoming a long-term problem for Ireland unless the welfare system is radically overhauled, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has warned.

Mr Kenny made it clear there would be “nothing for nothing” in future as he insisted all unemployed people must co-operate with back-to-work programmes in order to escape “welfare traps”.

Speaking to some 300 party members at the Fine Gael two-day convention in Limerick, Mr Kenny said one-fifth of households were categorised as jobless. This was twice the European average and “very damaging to our society”, he said.