Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Only yesterday, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions stated that there is no point in talking to the Government any more about its ten point plan for economic recovery, as the unions seem to have got a stonewall response. Did the Taoiseach state previously that he saw considerable merits in the plan? If this is the case, why has the Government made no progress to date? In spite of the fact that the Taoiseach spoke about much common ground, is there any part of the ICTU proposals he would implement? Will he and the Government ditch the so called public service pension levy, which the ICTU rightly described as crude and unfair and part of a strategy to drive down wages across the economy? Will the Government bring in a scheme where unemployed workers are guaranteed incomes of up to 80% of their salary for two years, conditional on participation in extensive training and up-skilling? Will the Government introduce a three year moratorium on house repossessions?

Has the Taoiseach studied the ICTU plan for €1 billion to be invested in a job retention and job creation strategy? Congress has made proposals similar to those made by my own party, including State support for short time working, so that workers can be kept in employment and trained during slack periods, as well as training guarantees for workers and apprentices. Will the Government take on board any of the proposals contained in that document, or when will it produce a coherent job creation and job retention plan?

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