An Taoiseach Brian Cowen is set to meet with 11 State agencies this afternoon to discuss job creation and protection.
Attending the meeting will be heads of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, FÁS, Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia and the Higher Education Authority, with the specific focus on how Ireland can help the unemployed and generate jobs.
This news comes after figures were released yesterday by the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey, which showed that long-term unemployment has risen in Ireland and currently stands at 5.9pc compared to the 2009 figure of 2.6pc.
The Taoiseach issued a statement prior to the meeting reiterating the need to be “confident, positive and determined”.
He added that Ireland has to “believe in ourselves if we want other people to believe in us, invest with us and trade with us”.
Cowen said he hopes to ensure there is the sharpest possible focus on job creation across all parts of Government.
