THE Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed says it is fully in favour of maintaining economic stability. The claim is contained in its submission to the national framework talks on a new agreement to succeed the PCW. However the INOU chairman, Mr Paul Billings, said tackling unemployment must be one of the agreement's priorities, along with reduction of the national debt and tax reform.
The INOU called on the Government to remove barriers to lower paid employment by extending medical cards to all children and increasing child benefit. There must also be a job guarantee for those unemployed for more than five years.
More funding must be made available for an integrated package to tackle drug addiction and unemployment in disadvantaged communities. There should also be an immediate move to increase social welfare payments to the levels recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare 10 years ago.
On tax, Mr Billings said the INOU wanted a move from personal allowances to a tax credit system. As an interim measure, he proposed that personal allowances be increased at the standard rate.
The National Anti Poverty Strategy of the Department of Social Welfare should also be incorporated "into the heart" of Government policy, Mr Billings said. The unemployed should participate fully in the planning and implementation of institutional training and change.