People in the black economy are often "codding themselves", a senior social welfare official has said. Mr Tom Mulkerin said some people were earning a pittance in the black economy. Those who had decided to change over to a legitimate basis found that their businesses were transformed because they could now advertise and seek customers openly.
He was speaking yesterday to reporters at a briefing in the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. The briefing was opened by the Minister, Mr Ahern.
Mr Mulkerin said that despite what was often said to the contrary, people were better off working than on social welfare.
Mr Eddie Sullivan, the Department's secretary-general, said that where employers said they could not find workers, the Department tried to find out why. In some cases, he said, the work was unattractive or the pay was seen as too low. In other cases, employers might be looking for people of a particular age, ruling out many people on the Live Register.
However, there were many socially conscious employers who would make room for long-term unemployed people, he said.