Sinn Féin MEP to launch Job Retention & Creation Strategy

21 mars 2009

Sinn Féin will launch its job retention and creation strategy document ‘Getting Ireland back to work’ this Monday, March 23rd at 10:30am in Buswells Hotel. The document contains more than 80 proposals, which Sinn Féin believes are urgently required. It sets out specific measures for job retention, job creation, all-Ireland economic spending and education and training. Speaking ahead of Monday’s event Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald MEP said:

“In just over twelve months unemployment has increased by 184,061. In January and February almost 1,000 people lost their jobs every day. The government’s budget last October did nothing to stimulate the economy. As of now, unemployment figures will far exceed the projected figure of 400,000 by the end of the year. This is a crisis that cannot continue.

“The government needs a three-year plan to hold on to or create the 1,000 jobs a day that are being lost. This means quickly identifying viable companies that need immediate help. It means identifying where jobs are going to be created over the next 3-5 years and bringing together FÁS, VECs, colleges and universities to up- skill the workforce. It means fostering a real innovation culture. And most critically, quarterly targets need to be set and delivered.

“Sinn Féin will be presenting this document to the government and meeting with employers, workers, enterprise boards and groups across the country in the coming weeks to discuss the recommendations in the report.  The party will also be publishing a public finance document outlining where we believe revenue can be raised and savings made and what is required in the longer term in relation to how the state raises finance.  In addition, we will publish a separate Oireachtas report on the future of farming and fisheries, and we intend to develop a separate set of proposals on the tourism sector, which directly and indirectly employs so many people in this state and last year was responsible for over €6 billion of GDP.” ENDS