Labour slams Govt ‘complacency’ on jobs

The Labour Party has accused the Government of complacency after statistics released today showed an increase of 2,800 in the Live Register figures for August.

Party spokesman Tommy Broughan called on the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition to protect existing jobs and the competitiveness of Irish business by cracking down on inflation.

He blamed a minority of retailers for forcing up prices and eroding Irish competitiveness.

“Certainly in services and tourism, we have seen major [price] increases and the introduction of the euro has been accompanied by considerable amounts of profiteering and gouging of consumers and that certainly made us less competitive,” he said.

“I have called on the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste repeatedly to take action, particularly in areas like the midlands, the west and the Dublin region, where we’ve seen very significant rises in unemployment.”