Social welfare abuse - Even 1% is too many

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has been roundly criticised for being arrogantly and gratuitously insulting when she suggested that some people are not making a serious effort to get back into the jobs market.

A great majority of the unemployed are undoubtedly out of work through no fault of their own, but some of her more vocal critics have certainly left themselves open to the charge of being unfairly critical of her.

In fairness to the minister, she stated that she was only talking about 1% to 3% of those claiming unemployment assistance.