Irish political party Fine Gael has pledged to create 100,000 jobs in the country if it is elected to government, a promise made in an 80-page document unveiled at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin on February 15th.

It outlines a five-point plan to aid economic recovery, identifying growth and jobs, smaller government, deficit reduction, universal health insurance and political reform as the key areas to focus on.

Additionally, the European Union-International Monetary Fund rescue package would be renegotiated, with Michael Noonan - finance spokesman - quoted by the Irish Times as saying: "Unless [it] is made more affordable, there is a high risk, without anybody taking a policy decision, banks will run into default positions."

The party also intends to make cutbacks in the public sector, reducing the workforce by 30,000.

Enda Kenny, leader, made further comments, saying the manifesto is about jobs, transforming Ireland and getting the country working again.

Posted by Alex Donnell