Video – Fine Gael/Labour accused of dishonesty on jobs creation

THE GOVERNMENT'S Action Plan for Jobs announced on Thursday is nothing more than a rehashing of previously announced policy measures, according to Sinn Féin Jobs Spokesperson Peadar Tóibín TD.

He also accused Fine Gael and Labour of being dishonest with job creation figures noting that they look set to fall far short of their commitment to create 100,000 jobs during their term in office.

Speaking to An Phoblacht at Leinster House, the Meath-West Deputy said:

"Government tells us that today’s Jobs announcement for 2015 puts a Regional Enterprise Strategy centre stage, yet all we have is a few paragraphs that are a rehash of their 2014 commitments. There is no meat on the bones nor is there any mention of the West and South West where numbers in employment have actually fallen by 13,600."

He also criticsed the Government's attitude towards small and medium indigenous businesses:

"Their access to public procurement, particularly in the areas of goods and services which are worth around €9 billion annually to the domestic economy, has been raised time and time again with government Ministers. Today’s Jobs Plan does nothing to address the blockages they face. Instead Labour and Fine Gael have taken the position that the fault lies with businesses and as a result they have limited their commitments to a couple of lines around raising awareness and capability."