KENNY SUPPORTS INOU CALL - ELECTION JOBS MUST BE GIVEN TO UNEMPLOYED

Posted on March 20, 2014 1:20 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour TD, Sean Kenny, has echoed the call by the INOU to ensure greater opportunities are given for unemployed people to get work in polling stations and count centres across the country for the upcoming Local and European Elections taking place on 23rd May 2014.

"The INOU had previously written to the government, calling for a minimum of 20% of polling station positions to be allocated to unemployed people and a more transparent recruitment system, which gives unemployed people an equal opportunity to access these positions to be put in place. Such a system should also be widely publicised so that unemployed people are made aware of how to register their interest in these position. The system should be one that positively encourages and welcomes applications from unemployed people."

"I am pleased that the INOU have been informed that the guidelines issued to Returning Officers for the conduct of the European and local elections on 23rd May asking them to give consideration to employing unemployed people, particularly for positions of polling clerk."

"Applications for positions relating to the elections can be made to the Returning Officer for the local area. The Returning Officer is normally the County Registrar for the county in question. Many Returning Officers have web sites through which applications can be made. If this facility is not available in the particular county, applications may be made in writing to the appropriate Returning Officer. We have been further advised that successful applicants will be required to attend at their polling station from 6 am to 11 pm on the day of the polls."

"I hope that as many unemployed people apply for these positions as possible - not only is it a unique job working in the most essential part of our democracy, it is also paying work and will be a worthwhile experience and addition to a CV."