Multinationals 'not key' to solving employment issue
The Government is being told to stop trying to "solve" Ireland's employment problem with multinational companies.
Social Justice Ireland says the Coalition needs to focus more on small business and increase investment in infrastructure, particularly broadband.
The think-tank has released its latest 'National Social Monitor', which shows poverty is a bigger problem in rural areas than in towns and cities.
Director Sean Healy says he understands it is not as simple as getting big companies to leave towns and cities.
"Don't think that the solution at all is in sort of trying to get Google or Microsoft or Intel to locate to Mayo or Donegal or Kerry or somewhere - that's not the key," he said.
"The key is actually recognising that we need to increase the overall take on jobs working with that level of development that the government has at the moment.
"But also recognising that if you're going to generate jobs in rural Ireland you need to have a much stronger focus on small businesses."
