Cowen defends handling of unemployment crisis

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the way in which the Government is dealing with the unemployment crisis.

Mr Cowen told the Dáil this morning that the seasonally-adjusted number of people on the live register now stands at 420,000.

Although there was no substantial increase in unemployment last month, Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny questioned the Government's jobs stragety, accusing it of "switching on the tap of emigration" in order to cope with unemployment.

Mr Cowen however inisted the Government was doing all it can to get things back on track.

"Everything that we're seeking to do - the passing of the European referendum, the enactment of the NAMA legislation, the bringing forward of a Budget - are fundamental building blocks to building confidence in our capacity to come through this recession" he said.

The Taoiseach also pledged to provide extra places for those who have lost employment that they will get an opportunity to retrain and upskill.