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November 23, 2010

IMF Urges Ireland To Cut Jobless Benefits and Minimum Wage
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The International Monetary Fund is urging Ireland to gradually lower
unemployment benefits and lower its minimum wage. The IMF made the
suggestions on Monday just days after Ireland sought a massive bailout
from the European Union and IMF to help rescue its banking sector.
Meanwhile Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has agreed to call for an
early general election next year but he resisted calls to immediately
dissolve the government. Joan Burton is the deputy leader of the
opposition Labour Party.

Joan Burton: "All lot of ordinary Irish people fell that people were
never consulted or asked to give a mandate in relation to the
extraordinary events that are now happening and that’s why people feel
that an election would help to clear the air and produce a government
with a fresh mandate who would be responsible to the people."



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