Skilled trainee workers are being left high and dry as Brian Cowen’s recession takes hold with a threefold increase in the number of unemployed FÁS apprentices since the start of the year, Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD said today (Tuesday).

“Young trainees setting out on their careers are taking a hammering from the economic downturn and the housing sector collapse, with almost 1,000 FÁS apprentices now on the dole and unable to complete their training. Figures supplied by FÁS revealed there were 984 redundant apprentices midway through July, compared to just 344 last January. This figure is set to rise as the construction sector meltdown continues. …[more]

Following on from last nights meeting, please find below two letters which can be submitted in relation to the Twinlite Schools planning permission. Both documents are in word format:

1) Planning Permission Submission

2) Planning Permission Support 

Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to rule out the introduction of a property tax, following the controversial proposal from the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).

“The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) is a Government body under the aegis of Brian Cowen’s Department. The Council consists of the great and the good from the Social Partnership system along with the Taoiseach’s right hand men and women. It is funded by the Department of the Taoiseach and is chaired by Dermot McCarthy, the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach. The Deputy Chairperson, Mary Doyle is also a senior official in the Taoiseach’s Department. Other members include trade union bosses David Begg, Peter McLoone and Jack O’Connor, IBEC’s Turlough O’Sullivan, Fr Sean Healy, Sean Gorman (Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) and the Taoiseach’s special advisor, Peter Clinch. …[more]

Dublin man Leo Varadkar TD will this summer volunteer in Mongolia with leading development charity VSO.  Leo will be participating in VSO’s ‘Politicians for Development Programme’ in which Irish government representatives volunteer for 2-3 weeks during Summer Recess 2008.  Those participating will be placed by in local partner organisations located in Africa and Asia. 

Leo is one of six politicians who will be volunteering with VSO in August.  A general practitioner (GP) registrar and former hospital doctor, Leo will be placed as a health education advisor with the National Centre for Health Development in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia.

VSO fights poverty in 35 developing countries by sending experienced professionals such as teachers, business people and health workers on short and long-term placements.  VSO has Programme Offices in every country where they work that provide training and logistical support to volunteers.  All candidates complete comprehensive training courses before departure. …[more]

Minister gaffes on long-term unemployment figures

The Government’s shaky grasp of even basic economics was demonstrated last night when Social & Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin TD made a major gaffe on The Week in Politics when she claimed that long-term unemployment is falling, whereas the most recent 12 monthly figures show a 7.8% increase.

“As the Minister responsible for the Jobseekers’ Allowance, Minister Hanafin is supposed to have a clear grasp of the number of long-term unemployed. Yet on The Week in Politics the Minister wrongly claimed that long-term unemployment is falling, when the most recent 12 monthly figures showed it rose by 7.8%. The Minister claimed that: ‘long-term unemployment is actually down’. This latest gaffe is further evidence of Fianna Fail’s incompetence on the economy and jobs. …[more]

635 losing job every day as workers suffer from FF’s economic incompetence

Fine Gael Enterprise, Trade & Employment Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has described today as a Black Friday for workers as the CSO revealed the biggest ever increase in the live register last month, with 635 people losing their job every day.

“This is a Black Friday for workers as the CSO reveals the biggest ever increase in the live register in June. A total of 19,055 more people signed on between May and June, with 635 people losing their job every day. Since the last election, when the Fianna Fáil Government scraped back into power on the back of false economic promises, at least 54,000 people have lost their jobs and the live register has risen by a third. And the overall unemployment rate is now creeping back up to 6%. …[more]