The leader of Democratic Left, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, has called for the introduction of a 35-hour working week. He says the Government should campaign for a 35-hour week at EU level and that its introduction could significantly reduce unemployment. The standard working week in the Republic is 39 hours.
Speaking at a Democratic Left conference on "Irish and European Employment Policy" yesterday in Dublin, Mr De Rossa called on the Taoiseach to insist that full employment be made a priority objective of the EU. He welcomed Mr Ahern's agreement to a special Dail debate on the forthcoming EU Jobs Summit.
"Ireland should take the lead in ensuring that unemployment takes its rightful place at the top of the EU agenda. We should never allow a situation to develop where unemployment levels of more than 20 million throughout the EU and 250,000 in Ireland are allowed to become the norm."
Creating additional jobs will not solve the problems of the longterm unemployed without other measures to tackle the underlying problems of the disadvantage in many communities. "What we need most of all is the political courage to acknowledge that existing models and approaches have not adequately addressed the problems of the marginalised and long-term unemployed," he added.
"One of the most important initiatives that could be taken at a European level to reduce unemployment would be the introduction of a 35-hour week. Other measures should include the targeting of the young and long-term unemployed with specific incentives to encourage them to take up training and the jobs that would become available with a shorter working week."
Mr Des Geraghty, vice-president of SIPTU, told the conference that many employment schemes and training programmes have had little impact on disadvantaged areas "because local communities do not have the social mix, the professional skills or the financial support to achieve any long-term benefits from such schemes".
"Local authorities must be funded to play a pro-active role with these communities. They must be helped to attract industry and services, to develop job placement services, increase targeted training for real jobs and ensure that young people with little schooling get second-chance education."
Mr Geraghty said a concerted programme of action was needed at national and EU level if long-term unemployment was to be eradicated.