LIVE REGISTER figures for February show the unemployment situation is “stabilising”, Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted in the Dáil as Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny claimed the Government’s jobs and banking strategies were “in tatters”.

Mr Cowen accused Mr Kenny of taking an “irresponsible position” on banking policy, while Mr Kenny said the Taoiseach should break out of his “straitjacket of tribal Fianna Fáilism and accept that other parties, including Fine Gael and Labour, may well have proposals worthy of consideration and implementation by Government”.

There were rowdy and sharp exchanges, repeated interruptions and heckling as the latest unemployment figures were due to be revealed. Mr Kenny said there were 240,000 on the Live Register in September 2008. “What is that number today?”

The Taoiseach said the February figures “will show almost no change compared to January. This compares with an increase in February last year of more than 26,000”. While unemployment “remains at a high level, these figures confirm that the situation is stabilising”.

Mr Kenny said the “figure for January was 434,000. This is an appalling failure of the Taoiseach’s leadership” and his Government. He claimed the Government’s bank and jobs “strategy is in tatters. The banks have been bailed out three times – by the guarantee, by recapitalisation, and by the passing of the Nama Bill – and they are now looking for more.”

However, Mr Cowen rejected what he called the “very irresponsible position from Deputy Kenny that we should not deal with the situation in Anglo Irish Bank and other banks, would mean an immediate call on funds to that amount”.

He referred to comments Mr Kenny made in the Dáil on Tuesday that there would be “revolution in the streets” if the Government injected a further €6 billion in Anglo Irish Bank.

Mr Kenny pointed out that “we said it should be wound up over seven years”.

“Had Anglo Irish Bank not been recapitalised last year, Mr Cowen continued, “it would have lost its banking licence and there would have been a call on the State guarantee. We would have been required to immediately repay €65 billion in funding” which the Government did not have “lying about”.

However, Mr Kenny said “the people on the street are suffering in enraged silence at the carry-on and incompetence of the Government”. Mr Cowen said he had “considered Fine Gael’s banking policy and just explained the consequences”.