The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has called on all political parties in Dail Eireann to endorse the European Appeal for Full Employment, writes Padraig Yeates, Industry and Employment Correspondent.
The appeal, drawn up by a cross party group of MEPS and endorsed by 500 parliamentarians in EU member states, calls for a massive job creation programme across the Union. It says rigid adherence to the Maastricht criteria on monetary union is aggravating unemployment.
The INOU chairman, Mr Paul Billings, says "widespread support for this appeal will help ensure that unemployment is a priority issue on the agenda of the Inter Governmental Conference. Politicians who, in the past, have claimed that they are committed to tackling unemployment now have an opportunity to prove their worth and sign the appeal."
Some TDs have already signed the appeal, including the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, and the Minister of State for Energy, Mr Emmet Stagg.