Harris pledges penalties for refusing back-to-work services

RTÉ News shows the Fine Gael leader calling for a new employment plan at his party's Ard Fheis in Cork.

Channel: RTÉ News Story of November 8, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of RTÉ News's most watched videos since yesterday, with 20,278 views.

Fine Gael pledges ‘penalties’ for those avoiding back-to-work services #RTÉNews

Long-term unemployed people who refuse to engage with back-to-work services would face penalties under a pledge Simon Harris made to Fine Gael members in Cork, RTÉ News reports.

The Tánaiste and party leader opens the excerpt by affirming the need for welfare: "Social welfare must always be there for people when they need support." He then argues that support carries responsibilities for people able to work.

"The dole is a safety net, not a way of life," Harris says, drawing applause from the audience.

Harris describes Ireland as being at full employment and argues that remaining on the live register year after year is unacceptable. He calls for a new pathways-to-work plan and active engagement with people who have been unemployed long term.

The penalty pledge is specifically directed at those who refuse that engagement. The excerpt does not specify what the penalties would be or how they would be applied.

RTÉ News's clip drew about 20,000 views since yesterday. Its closing statement leaves Harris's intended approach explicit: "For those who refuse to engage, there will be penalties."

Published on Trari

Share this story

A ready picture for an Instagram story or a WhatsApp status.

Share the pictureSend the link

×Share the picture

Where next?

More from RTÉ NewsNews 15K views since yesterdayDublin marchers demand a pause on new data centresRTÉ News hears concerns about electricity demand and local developments, while the enterprise minister describes expansion as an economic opportunity.Channel: RTÉ News · Story of November 8, 2026 Also in News networks and broadcastersVideo taking off 30x its usual first dayTrump's "just run things well" brief for Stephen Miller leads Muir's newscastABC's November 6 World News Tonight moves from an armed arrest outside the White House to a change of chief of staff inside it, and closes with two pandas in A…Channel: ABC News · Story of November 8, 2026 A different discovery todayA video worth knowing"What's the score?": Jon Stewart's midterm week, from pool talk to a sweepThe Daily Show's 48-minute compilation runs from Stewart's warning against counting on a blue wave to Michael Kosta covering the Democratic sweep.Channel: The Daily Show · Story of November 8, 2026

Or follow us on Telegram

Is this your channel?For the channel's owners and team: a ready picture and text for your audience

Share the story with your audience. Everything is ready:

For a community post or your channel's description

Harris pledges penalties for refusing back-to-work services The full story on Trari: https://trari.com/en/story/rtenews-30658/?from=kit

Copy the text

The numbers

The speech excerpt was RTÉ News's second most-watched new video since yesterday.

subscribers

256,000

no significant change in the last 7 days

total views

183,323,705

views per day

300,643

typical day: 254,741

the video

views

20,278

likes

241

comments

135

days online

1

subscribers: this channel and similar channels

The Sydney Morning Herald…

271,000

The Globe and Mail

266,000

RTÉ News

256,000

RNZ

254,000

Washington Week PBS

248,000

Royal Exclusive

244,000

As of November 8, 2026 · Data source: Trari Social News, Trari Traffic Trends and Ranking Platform, Google YouTube

Subscriber, view, like and comment counts are YouTube's. Rates, usual days, rankings, comparisons and categories are Trari's own calculations.