Cowen Announces Job Subsidy Scheme

An Taoiseach appeared today before the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (incidentally, the highlight of their last conference was Mr. Cowen’s predecessor wondering aloud why those who criticised his economic policies didn’t go off and commit suicide.)  The Taoiseach’s remarks suggest that, despite David Begg’s disavowal of it, the €250 million job subsidy proposal is going ahead:

Drawing on detailed discussions with Congress, we are introducing a new initiative to safeguard vulnerable jobs through a Temporary Employment Subsidy Scheme. This will provide a subsidy to support jobs in exporting companies in the manufacturing or internationally-traded services sector.

Perhaps these detailed discussions with ICTU have changed the proposed scheme from the one criticised by me, Sarah Carey, and of course, David Begg.  However, there is no information in the official announcement to suggest so as of yet.  Indeed, it directs us to the document containing the original announcement of the scheme for “more information.”

As an aside, I’d note that the name of the scheme is a bit confusing.  I thought when I read it first that it was a scheme to promote temporary employment via a subsidy.  However, it appears instead to be a scheme that temporarily promotes employment via a subsidy.

2 replies on “Cowen Announces Job Subsidy Scheme”

A Stimulus to the economy is what is needed not a “Mickey Mouse” so called Job Subsidy Scheme to placate the Social Partners ( Trade Unions). The economy of this country is steadily going downhill due to the complete lack of confidence by the business sector in this Government’s Policy on the economy. If they keep going at the “Bookeeping” approach there will not be a Private Sector by this time next year and then the Department of Finance will finally realise that they have not got a clue. If you work in the business sector you would fully realise what I am referring to.

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