Employment is the single biggest issue

It's jobs stupid ... That what Bill Clinton may have said if he were in the midst of Irish politics at the moment. The most pressing issue, for most people, is the creation of employment. This week, the BHT Group, previously Wolseley, went into liquidation, but more than half of the circa 80 jobs at the company's corporate headquarters in Athlone and in its two local branches, were saved. Unfortunately, some 30-odd workers no longer have jobs to go to. This week, we report too on the 1,800 applications by people in this region for 100 army training places in the Western Brigade. There can be no denying that across Europe the focus on austerity and cutbacks is squeezing the life out of economies. Here in Ireland, we are suffering more than most and unemployment remains stubbornly resistant to job creation initiatives. Last week's announcement by DPD in Athlone that it was creating some 50 new jobs was welcome. But we need many more. And to do that we need to encourage greater consumer spending to kickstart our economy. Racism allegations must be investigated Suggestions that racism is on the rise in Athlone, and that there has been a campaign of racial intimidation of a group of Indian workers in the town need to be investigated. A local businessman this week claimed he had been forced to move four Indian employees out of the Willow Park area to another location in Athlone, such was the sustained level of abuse and intimidation that the men were subjected to. There is a disagreement between the businessman and AIT students union over claims that students were involved in the incident. However, whoever the culprits are, there is no place for racism - and those who abuse others due to the colour of their skin, or their nationality, should face the full rigours of the law. Athlone is a multi-racial town, home to one of the largest asylum seeker centres in the country, and with multinational companies employing people of many nationalities. Athlone IT is home to students from 55 nations and is this week celebrating the 25th anniversary of Erasmus, a special international student exchange programme. It would be regrettable if any residents of the town were acting in the manner described by the businessman. Further afield this week, we had the frightening scenario of the French National Front, in the person of Marime Le Pen, receiving almost 18% of the vote in the first round of Presidential elections. The far-right National Front has a history of intolerance to immigrants and the fact that one in five adult voters in France supports the party is a worrying sign. History tells us that racism can rise in tough economic times - as people cast out for someone to blame for their predicaments. However, it's clear that those to blame are not people from other countries or continents seeking to improve their lives and those of their children. The real culprits in our economic meltdown wore suits, spoke in the language of finance, never had to seek asylum from tyranny or poverty and were never forced to emigrate to distant countries in search of work. In Athlone, that message has as much relevance as anywhere else. It's up to the vast majority of citizens to ensure that the Céad Míle Fáile continues to be offered to those of other nationalities.