The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has said that "employment growth will resume in the medium term with the largest increase predicted in the services sector".
The Taoiseach was speaking at the official opening of FÁS opportunities 2002 at the RDS today and following the release of the latest Live Register figures which showed an adjusted increase of 7,554 to 159,960 in the five-week period between December 21st, 2001, and January 31st, 2002.
However, both Mr Tommy Broughan of Labour and Mr Charles Flanagan of Fine Gael said the figures were worrying.
"With unemployment rising steadily on a monthly basis, it is clear the Government has no plan to stem the tide," said Mr Flanagan.
Mr Flanagan added that unemployment would now become an election issue.
Earlier the Taoiseach said that Ireland could look forward to a net jobs increase of 193,000.
"As we look to the future, we can take confidence in the review FÁS recently carried out of the prospects for the Irish labour market, on behalf of the Expert Group for Future Skills Needs. The report forecasts medium-term GNP growth rates of between 4% and 5% per year over the next five years. This translates into a net increase of about 193,000 jobs over the period from 2002 to 2007", said Mr Ahern.