ICTU to seek clarification of proposal to cut off social welfare

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is to seek clarification of the Tanaiste's proposal that unemployed people who refuse jobs or training could have their social welfare allowances cut.

Ms Harney was criticised yesterday by the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU), which said her "solo approach" to job creation had undermined constructive co-operation between the social partners.

The president of SIPTU, Mr Jimmy Somers, described them as a "cheap political shot when a meaningful commitment of resources is what is required to deal with the problem".

Business groups had given an enthusiastic welcome to Ms Harney's remarks on Wednesday. IBEC described them as "refreshing and realistic" while the Small Firms Association (SFA) said they were the first indication that the Government was doing something positive about those not making themselves available for work.

The ICTU said it would be seeking clarification on their implications for the Government's job creation policies. Mr Oliver Donohoe, ICTU's information officer, said it was always the case that unemployed people who declined to take jobs could have their dole payments cut.

Any policies forcing people to take up jobs should only be implemented in tandem with the introduction of the minimum wage in 2000.

Mr Somers, speaking following a meeting of SIPTU's executive council, said the only outcome from Ms Harney's plans could be further "undermining and harassment of the unemployed, the vast majority of whom do want to be trained and do want meaningful employment".

The INOU welcomed Ms Harney's "back-down" from her comments on Wednesday, after she said on RTE's Morning Ireland yesterday that people would not be "thrown off the dole" unless they were better off as a result.

But it accused the Tanaiste of not being in touch with agreements reached by the social partners under Partnership 2000, pointing out that it had been agreed at a recent meeting to develop a strategy to co-ordinate information between employers and the unemployed.

The organisation claimed none of the 170 employers quoted in an SFA survey as having recruitment problems had contacted FAS to recruit staff.

The Scheme Workers' Alliance, which supports people on community employment schemes, said the experiences of people seeking work showed that employers were not interested in taking on anyone who had suffered even a few months of unemployment.

"Mary Harney's attack on the welfare state and the defenceless must not go unchallenged. We demand that this Government immediately reject Mary Harney's cruel attack on those least able to defend their right to full social inclusion," it said.

Sinn Fein accused the PD leader of "waging war on the unemployed" and of an incursion into a world she knew nothing and cared nothing about.