The Government said today the increase in the Live Register reflected the inevitable impact of the world economic slowdown but confidence in the achievements of the last decade should not be lost.
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But the Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan has called on the Taoiseach to take personal charge of what he has described as "the mounting job crisis" and convene a meeting of the social partners to discuss a response.
Minister of State to the Taoiseach Mr Seamus Brennan said it was important to remember the unemployment rate of 3.9 per cent remained extremely low by historic standards.
"The Government will do everything possible to help those workers and their families affected by the current slowdown and to help them get alternative jobs or to benefit from retraining," he added.
Labour Party Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mr Pat Rabbitte however criticised the Government’s "low key response to the slow down".
"Blind adherence to laissez faire free market principles will put more jobs at risk over the coming months. There is a role for the State to protect jobs and promote investment, this role is probably more essential now than at any time in the past four years," said Mr Rabbitte.
Meanwhile the Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan called on the Mr Ahern to convene an immediate meeting of the social partners and provide information on the difficulties facing key sectors and companies so "remedial action could be taken where possible".
"Yesterday was a black day for 1200 workers and their families on what was one of the worst days this year for job losses," Mr Noonan said during a visit to Carlow today.
One hundred workers at the Braun plant in Carlow were among almost 1,200 who were told they would be laid off across the country yesterday.
"There is a real fear among the public that the Government has lost control of the management of the economy and that company closures and job cuts are appearing without any warning," Mr Noonan said.