It is unacceptable for Government ministers to send out conflicting signals on their attitude towards the long-term unemployed, the general secretary of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, Mr Mike Allen, said yesterday.
He was speaking at the launch of the INOU's information booklet, "Working for Work", by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern.
Mr Ahern's Department is to distribute 10,000 copies of the booklet, which is produced by the INOU each year. It coincides with a campaign initiated by Mr Ahern's Department earlier this week, "It pays to work", which seeks to highlight the increasing job opportunities available to unemployed people, as well as opportunities for training and education.
Mr Allen welcomed the "It pays to work" initiative and similar measures. "But these initiatives are messed up by threats from other Ministers", he said, in a veiled reference to the Tanaiste, Ms Harney. "The Government can't simultaneously reach out a helping hand to people and threaten them. Unemployed people only hear the threats, they don't see the helping hand."
He also called for a minister of state to be given responsibility for dealing with unemployment. The minister's remit would be to draw together the various State services involved.
On the Budget, Mr Allen sought social welfare increases of at least £5 a week and a personal tax allowance increase of £1,000.
Mr Ahern said "quality information" was of prime importance in letting people know of supports available for those seeking to reenter the workforce. Many options were available and a newsletter would be circulated to everyone on the live register. The campaign would also show people that it did pay to work rather than remain on the dole.