Jim Higgins
Question:31 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the pastoral letter of the Irish Catholic Bishops entitled Work is the Key; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Bishops' Pastoral on Work.
The Pastoral "Work is the Key", which was issued by the Irish Episcopal Conference last year, is a very valuable contribution to public discussion in relation to the unemployment problem.
It articulates very clearly the scale of the problem in human terms and the urgency of the task that lies before us as a people.
Tackling the unemployment problem is the main priority of the Government and it is using every means at its disposal in pursuance of that priority. These means include the programme of action announced by me, on 3 May, in response to the Culliton/Moriarty reports, the encouragement of local initiative through regional structures for enterprise, improved active labour market measures as well as good overall economic management of our affairs.