“One of the last acts of the outgoing government was to try and promote a few backbenchers to ministerial positions. For Fianna Fail, it was a case of jobs for the boys until the bitter end. What Ireland needs now is a government that wants jobs for the people.” Those were the words of Fine Gael Candidate for Cavan/Monaghan, Cllr Heather Humphreys as she spoke of Fine Gael’s jobs plan this week.

“If Ireland is to get out of this economic crisis, we must first sort out the unemployment crisis. Over the last three years, 300,000 people have lost their jobs in this country. As of January 2011, the number of people on the live register in Monaghan was 6,444 while in Cavan the number was 7,462. In both cases, this is an increase of almost 200% since 2007. This is the sad legacy that the outgoing Fianna Fail government leaves to the people of this constituency,” explained Cllr Humphreys.

Cllr Humphreys said that the focus of any incoming government had to be on job creation and not simply on reducing the deficit. In this respect, she said Fine Gael had put forward a clear and coherent jobs strategy.

“The Fine Gael NewEra plan will create 20,000 jobs each year for the next four years. It will invest €7billion into new energy, water, broadband and telecoms infrastructure. NewEra will create jobs in the construction and engineering sectors while also providing a much needed modernisation of services that will enable us to build for our futures and compete on the international stage”. 

Cllr Humphreys also welcomed the proposed partial loan guarantee scheme for small and medium sized business put forward by Fine Gael.

“Through my work as Manager of Cootehill Credit Union, I have seen first hand the difficulties that small local businesses are facing. Investing in these businesses via the partial loan guarantee scheme will provide them with the credit that they so desperately need. This iniative, taken along with our plan to abolish the lower rate of employer PRSI will help to encourage the creation and retention of jobs in our indigenous businesses throughout Cavan and Monaghan,” declared Cllr Humphreys.