INOU ANNUAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE

24 Sep 2003

The membership of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) will hold its Annual Delegate Conference on Friday 26th September 2003. The main discussion of this year’s conference will focus on the local and national response to the cutbacks to Active Labour Market Programmes such as Community Employment and Jobs Initiative.

'This theme is very timely, given the harsh cutbacks that individuals and sponsoring organisations have had to face throughout 2003’, said Mr Eric Conroy, General Secretary INOU. ‘The Conference will look at how decisions which have been taken in the last year have impacted on unemployed people and services provided to unemployed people. As a social partner, we question the Government’s commitment to the partnership process given that decisions surrounding ALMP’s are being made without consultation or regard to the social partners.’

‘The impact of these cutbacks is immense on the individuals concerned, their organisations and the communities that benefit from their service. The decision to reduce these programmes is a short-sighted one, as it will send people back to the dole and lead to further desolation and poverty in marginalised communities,’ he added.

Mr Colm Rapple, well-known journalist and family finance expert will open the Conference.