Unemployment reaches 371,000

Posted on April 01, 2009 at 05:08 PM

For the third successive month we are experiencing the highest unemployment figures we have ever had in the history of the country. The latest unemployment figures were raised today during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil by the Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore.

Since Christmas 2007 more than 200,000 people have lost their jobs bringing the job loss total to 371,000.

He said: "Two weeks ago Labour proposed a set of measures to address the immediate problems of people losing their job and who are likely to be out of work for some time, including education, training and unfortunately the Government voted down those proposals."

Eamon then focused on what could be done to save jobs referring specifically to SR Technics where 600 people are going to lose their jobs with 600 more jobs lost down the line.

"Why doesn't the Government respond positively to the management buy-out, which will save 900 of those jobs, which would retain a viable business and an aircraft maintenance facility in this country which we will be able to use in the future?"

You can see Eamon's full contribution on the accompanying video as well as reading the full exchange on the Oireachtas website.

Tagged with Finance • unemployment