Out of work

I’ve just switched on Aertel (RTE’s teletext service) this morning: "Talks between the Government and the social partners on a plan to reduce government spending have resumed at Government Buildings......The government is seeking to cut E2bn in spending this year, and is trying to reach agreement on wider five year plan to reduce spending by E16bn. "

Sky News ran a report, over the last couple of days, in which the Irish economy came under the spotlight. One of its reporters, Stuart Ramsay, was dispatched to Dublin and his report, alongside some nice pictures of the Liffey and its environs, made for very sober viewing. A local builder showed Ramsay around a deserted building site that was now ‘dead’ – it had only been partially completed. The builder told Sky News that he had employees that were with him for over 20 years who he would no longer be able to pay and the future was looking quite bleak. All this only months ago, when the Celtic Tiger was roaring, could not have been foreseen.

Waterford Wedgewood, Dell and redundancies at CIE and other businesses and services nationwide, are all leading to an increase in unemployment. Whilst the government worries about spending, large organisations either crash (Woolworths, Zavvi) or, they reduce the work force significantly (M&S, Superquinn).

Each day, on my way to college, I walk past the snaking queue, out onto the street, for those seeking welfare payments. It is a sorry sight: many would not have expected to be in the position of looking for work only a year ago. The construction business is being hit badly and bricklayers and builders, some who left school without formal qualifications, are now faced with the harsh economic reality that everyone curses about: The Recession.

The economic problems such as those outlined above are being analysed closely by the media but it is the individual that is just as important, the human cost. How is bread put on the table? Can couples have a bigger family? Can we pay off the mortgage? Will we have to sell the car? How will I get alternative employment?

With less money being spent retailers are being badly hit at the moment. Maybe there were too many shops in this country anyway. I was in the library yesterday and looking at books on the economy. One of the books quoted Dr Garret FitzGerald (keeping the Celtic Tiger “purring”, in his words). It seems that no-one thought the striped cat would ever die.

But being made redundant, as I can testify, is no picnic. There are predictions that unemployment will rise and rise. Across Europe the picture is much the same with rioting in France, UK and Russia being reported by the media – arising out of the economic downturn. At this point the future looks more uncertain than ever and it feels like everyone is being tangled up in this web.

The tennis from Melbourne is on the television at the moment but they’ve lost the sound, seems nothing is working. Ah! that reminds me there’s work in Australia (and a heat wave too). So maybe it’s not such a bad time to go under…….