The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that Government should not take comfort from the latest figures that show a fall in the numbers signing on the live register.
Congress said that a number of factors – such as ongoing emigration – were responsible for the fall and it was not the result of an economic upturn, job creation or the success of current economic policy.
Congress said that the continued fall in retail sales showed that the domestic economy remained stagnant and highlighted the need to stimulate growth and job creation in Budget 2014.