All workers must share in profits of their labour

CSO official figures show that just over 1.8 million people were in employment and nearly 315,000 people were unemployed at the end of last September.

The unadjusted unemployment rate was then just under 15%.

On Feb 13, amid much fanfare, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced a strategy of Government action plansto create 100,000 jobs by the year 2016.

This should reduce unemployment to about 215,000 people and increase employment to 1.9 million people. Theunemployment rate would then be about 10%.

That puts the target in perspective.

The plan also envisages two million people in employment by 2020.

Another 100,000 new jobs will have to come on stream between 2016 and 2020.

That would then yield an unemployment rate of about 5.5%.

The success of the strategy may be measured by cumulative milestones of 25,000 new jobs each year over the next eight years.

Presumably, the quarterly reports will seek an accumulating growth of six to seven thousand new jobs in each quarter, with no loss of current jobs.

The Government hopes to be re-elected in 2016.

Key to achieving that will be choosing the optimum date on which to go to the country.

The Taoiseach also said he will personally oversee the plan.

I thought that was the job of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation?

Does that create two jobs out of one? That would be a good start, an instant 100% improvement.

Just don’t spoil the appetising broth by egging the mixture, by milking the process, or by watering down the ingredients.

Our country has been given a second chance, much as it may hurt our pride to admit it.

This time, all workers must get a fairer share in the profits from their labour. Let the rising tide lift all boats.

White-collar greed must be made a criminal offence in a reborn Ireland.

Michael Mernagh

Carrigaline

Co Cork