Unemployment up by 70%

THE number of people unemployed leapt by almost 70pc at the end of last year, prompting calls for urgent action to stop the haemorrhaging of jobs.

The number of people out of work rose by almost 70,000 to 170,600 in the final quarter of 2008 with men bearing the brunt of the job losses by a factor of nearly four to one as construction work dried up, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

The number of people working nationwide fell by 4pc, or almost 87,000, since the end of 2007 -- the largest decrease seen since the CSO first started its labour force survey in 1975.

The number of people working in Ireland is still over two million, but the unemployment rate has risen to 7.7pc and is now higher than the EU average.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/calls-for-urgent-intervention-as-unemployment-jumps-by-70pc-1656959.html

Unemployment rate up to 7.7% at end of 2008

Ireland's official unemployment rate increased to 7.7% at the end of last year, according to the CSO's latest Quarterly National Household Survey.

The statistics agency says more than 170,000 people were unemployed in the fourth quarter of 2008, an increase of almost 70% during the year.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyauaugbojsn/

Sinn Féin to campaign for another No to Lisbon

SINN FÉIN has clearly signalled it will campaign for another No vote in the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Speaking at the opening of the party’s Árd Fheis in Dublin last night, Sinn Féin’s Padraig MacLochlainn insisted Lisbon was the "wrong treaty" for Ireland and Europe.

Sinn Féin was the only party in the Dáil to campaign against Lisbon in the first referendum last year. Following the treaty’s defeat, the party said the No vote was a clear signal to the Government that the document had to be renegotiated.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/idojaueygb/

Europe puts off Libertas decision

THE European Parliament last night postponed officially recognising the Libertas party after receiving a letter from the founder Declan Ganley.

Two weeks ago the parliament shelved a decision to recognise Libertas and grant it funding of more than e200,000 when two of the seven signatories said they never intended to support them.

Millionaire businessman Mr Ganley has now offered more names to the parliament president Hans Gert Pottering.

Mr Pottering has asked the parliament’s legal experts to investigate whether they can be accepted given that the deadline has passed.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ideyidauoj/

Ruling allows refugees stay if they face serious harm at home

MANY more refugees afraid to return to their own countries should qualify to remain in Ireland following a ruling from the European Court of Justice which says they need only face serious harm if they return home.

As a result, an applicant does not have to prove he or she is specifically targeted if they return to their home country, but should only have to show that because of the level of violence he or she would be at real risk.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ideyqlojey/

Swing in favour of Lisbon treaty

The latest poll shows that 51 per cent would now vote Yes to the treaty in a referendum, an increase of eight points since the last Irish Times poll in November, with 33 per cent saying they would vote No, a drop of six points. There are still 16 per cent in the “Don’t Know” category (down 2 points). When undecided voters are excluded, the Yes side has 60.7 per cent, with 39.3 per cent in the No camp. That compares to the referendum result last June of 53.4 per cent No and 46.6 per cent Yes.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0216/breaking15.htm

Immigrants not factored into job loss estimates

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen's prediction last Wednesday that unemployment could hit 400,000 by the end of this year came despite the Government making no provision for Irish and non-Irish nationals who may leave or enter the country as a result of the global downturn, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Given the failure by government officials to factor in any estimates on the expected outflow of workers who lose their jobs during 2009, Mr Cowen's grim forecast could yet turn out to be hopelessly optimistic to the tune of tens of thousands.

For in the case of non-Irish nationals from Eastern Europe, being unemployed in Ireland could still present a more attractive option than a return to one's home country.

The weekly entitlement to jobseeker's benefit stands at over €200 per week here and matches -- and in some cases outstrips -- professional salaries in EU accession countries such as Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania and Latvia.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/immigrants-not-factored-into-job-loss-estimates-1632513.html

Taxpayers to fork out an extra €2bn next year

TAXPAYERS are likely to have to stump up an extra €2bn from next year as part of the government's plans to bring order to the public finances. It is expected that around half of the planned €4bn "adjustment" in the public finances for 2010 will come from extra taxes.

Informed sources say that the introduction of carbon taxes and increases in in-come tax rates are both "inevitable", while a property tax on every home in the country is "a distinct possibility".

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2009/feb/08/taxpayers-to-fork-out-an-extra-2bn-next-year/

Unemployment is now at 9.2%

The Taoiseach has said that unemployment could reach 400,000 by the end of the year.

Brian Cowen was speaking after revealing the highest monthly increase in unemployment in more than 40 years.

Mr Cowen told Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that an extra 36,500 people joined the dole queues in January, bringing the unadjusted jobless total to 327,900.

Deputy Kenny said the figures were horrendous, the worst in the history of the State, and that the Government's proposals yesterday did nothing to offer hope or confidence to those who had lost their jobs.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0204/employment.html

European Parliament puts Libertas funding on hold

An application from Libertas for funding as a political party at the European level has been put on hold.

The European Parliament is authorised to grant funding to parties which satisfy rigorous requirements to show their European qualifications.

An Estonian MP listed as backing Libertas's application now insists that he had not signed any document.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0203/libertas.html

Watchdog calls for tighter immigration safeguards

The State's watchdog on human rights has today called for tighter safeguards to immigration law and practices.

The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) made its call following the publication of its second inquiry report that examined the treatment of a visitor from Pakistan who was refused entry to Ireland.

The report recommends the Government introduce tighter safeguards to immigration law and practice including a review of the Immigration, Protection and Residence Bill 2008.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0122/breaking34.htm

Cost of deportations brought up in the Dail

Deportation Orders.

Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will furnish details of costs (details supplied); the breakdown of these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The deportation of illegal immigrants and refused asylum seekers is costly, particularly to distant countries such as Nigeria, China, etc. In most cases removals are carried out using commercial flights which usually involves transit through other European airports as Ireland does not have direct flights to most of the countries of return. In addition, most flights have to be booked at short notice very near the date of departure which involves higher costs than if booked well in advance.

In considering the costs of deportations, the considerable expense arising from the continued presence in the State of persons who are the subject of deportation orders has to be taken into account. These costs include social welfare costs, direct provision costs, and detention costs in certain cases. While it is important to keep deportation costs to a minimum, not to remove persons refused permission to remain in the State would call into question the integrity of the entire immigration system. This would leave this country open to further illegal immigration and even more expense to taxpayers.

Contd

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20081218.XML&Node=H19-132#H19-132

Unemployment up 71% in 12 months

The Live Register saw an unadjusted increase of 120,987 or 71% in the year to December 2008 - the biggest 12-month increase since records began in 1967.

It compares to an unadjusted increase of 106,864 or 66.1% in the year to November.

Economists expect the unemployment figures to deteriorate significantly in 2009 with the state training agency FÁS predicting that the rate of unemployment will exceed 12% over the course of the year.

ISME described the situation as catastrophic and said that the Government has utterly failed to indicate how it is going to address the problems of small and medium businesses.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0109/employment.html

Dell invites existing 500 Polish staff to seek jobs in Lodz

DELL IS expanding its Polish operation in the wake of the Limerick job losses and has encouraged its 500 Polish employees in Ireland to apply for the new jobs.

"A lot of Polish people work for Dell in Ireland and they can apply for all open positions in Poland," said Rafal Branowski, Dell spokesman in Poland. "It's more about Polish people working in Ireland - for them it might be an interesting opportunity."

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0109/1231406004614.html

Demographic estimate shows Ireland leads the way for immigration

Ireland has the highest natural population growth of all the EU countries, +12.0 per 1,000. This contrasts with France at +4.5, Luxembourg at +4.3 and the UK at +3.6.

The report said the EU27 population grew by 4.4 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2008, due to natural population growth of +1.1 and net immigration of +3.3. In total, the EU27 population is estimated to have increased by 2.2 million in 2008.

In 2008, three-quarters of the increase in the EU27 population is estimated to have come from immigration.

In relative terms, Ireland again leads the way for immigration at +14.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, Slovenia was next at 12.6, Luxembourg at +11.9 and Cyprus +11.7.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/baby-boom-puts-us-on-top-of-birth-rate-league-1595151.html

3% decline in asylum applications last year

There was a 3 per cent decline in the number of applications for asylum in the Republic last year, according to new figures released today.

New figures released by the Department for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, indicate that application numbers are at levels not seen since the mid-nineties.

Last year 3,866 people sought asylum, compared to 3,985 in 2007.

The largest share of applicants came from Nigeria (26 per cent), followed by Pakistan (6 per cent), Iraq (5 per cent), China (4.7 per cent), and Georgia (4.7 per cent).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0105/breaking32.htm

70,000 retail jobs face axe in 2009

The economic crisis will significantly worsen in the New Year, with a shocking 70,000 jobs now expected to be lost in the beleaguered retail sector alone.

Retail forms a huge part of the economy with almost 30,000 wholesale and retail businesses in the country.

The sector employs around 200,000 people -- over 9 per cent of all jobs -- and accounts for close to a quarter of consumer spending.

In the New Year, it is widely anticipated that a third of such businesses will close, an unprecedented development which will lead to up to 70,000 job losses.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/70000-retail-jobs-face-axe-in-new-year-1586826.html

Over €6.5m paid in just five years of deportations

The Department of Justice spent over €150,000 chartering a flight for a sole Ghanian failed asylum seeker earlier this year, the Sunday Tribune has learned.

Four years earlier, the department spent over €50,000 deporting a lone Gambian asylum seeker. The cost of flying one Romanian home came to just €1,000 in the same year. In total, the justice department has spent almost €6.5m deporting 1,493 failed asylum seekers over the past five years.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/dec/21/over-65m-paid-in-just-five-years-of-deportations/

Major concerns raised over asylum seekers leaving infants alone in state-run centres

MAJOR concerns have been raised about asylum seekers leaving infants and young children alone in rooms at state reception centres without any supervision.

The fears are outlined in a series of inspection reports into reception centres, operated on behalf of the Department of Justice by private contractors.

The reports show that the practice of leaving children, some of whom are just a few months old, alone in their room is widespread at the asylum-seeker complexes.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/dec/21/major-concerns-raised-over-asylum-seekers-leaving-/

One in three prisoners not Irish

Almost one third of people sent to prison in 2007 were not born in Ireland.

According to the latest report from the Irish Prison Service, more than 11,000 were convicted of an offence last year.

On average there are 3,321 offenders behind bars on any given day, an increase of 4.1%.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1219/prison.html

120,000 more jobs will go, warns ESRI

The Irish economy will shed almost 120,000 jobs in 2009 and 50,000 people will emigrate, an economic forecast warned yesterday.

The ESRI also believes the Government will be hard-pressed to pay the 3.5pc wage rise due in September under the national pay agreement.

In a Quarterly Economic Commentary, it said GNP will shrink by 4.6pc next year on top of an anticipated 2.6pc contraction for 2008.

"We now expect that average employment will fall by 117,000 in 2009," said the report.

"A fall in employment of that size will be consistent with net outward migration of 50,000, with the unemployment rate averaging 9.4pc."

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/120000-more-jobs-will-go-warns-esri-1580693.html

Recession sees racism rise as minorities are targeted

THE recession has seen an increase in the discrimination and targeting of minorities, the outgoing state-funded authority on racism has said.

Delivering its final report ahead of disbanding, the National Consultative Committee on Racism (NCCRI) said it was “dismayed” at the Government’s weakening support for groups battling discrimination.

The Government cut the NCCRI’s budget by 100% in the budget, which has forced the group to close its doors. Its role is to be merged into the office of Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan.

The group’s director, Philip Watt, said it was a time to actually increase resources to combat discrimination.

“There has been a significant hardening of attitudes to Travellers and people of colour,” he said saying this was due to the recession.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=80363-qqqx=1.asp

Sign the No2Lisbon re-vote Petition

We petition the President of Ireland Mary McAleese, who holds the power to stop a referendum if it is deemed unconstitutional or undemocratic. We feel that to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty fulfils these requisites and as such, as the elected President of the Irish state we ask her to use her legislative powers and influence on this matter…

http://www.petitiononline.com/LisbonNO/petition.html

Cowen confident of 'Yes' vote for Lisbon re-run

Taoiseach Brian Cowen last night said he was "confident" the planned second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty will be successful.

But Mr Cowen said the Government would have to take it "step by step" and stressed he was not yet in position to formally call a second poll by next October.

Following an EU summit, at which he secured concessions on four major issues of concern for the Irish people, Mr Cowen is on track to run Lisbon II.

"On the basis of the agreement today, and on condition of our being able to satisfactorily put guarantees in place, I have said that I would be prepared to return to the public to put a new package and to seek their approval to it," he said.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cowen-confident-of-yes-vote-for-lisbon-rerun-1573730.html

"Govt betraying Irish people"

Libertas president Declan Ganley is accusing the Irish Government of betraying the Irish people by planning to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Under a plan being discussed by EU leaders in Brussels, the Government will hold another referendum before the end of next October in an effort to overturn last June's 'no' vote.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnauausnid/