The political backdrop to the re-opening of the Dáil is the major victory achieved by people with severe disabilities against Government cuts to their personal assistants. That victory will demonstrate to everybody that it pays to fight – but also it shows that when left with no alternative the capacity to struggle exists in ordinary people. A generalised fight back by people is more necessary than ever given the scale and breadth of attacks flagged by the Government and the Troika. This and the crying need for a radical left political alternative will be the key focus of the United Left Alliance:
Speaking ahead of the resumption of the Dáil the United Left Alliance’s Richard Boyd Barrett TD said:
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the cruel austerity that has been imposed on ordinary people in this country over the last four years is going to pale into insignificance compared to what cuts the government is planning to impose in the upcoming budget. They are planning cuts that will destroy the public health service, they are planning to attack pensioners and other vulnerable sections of our society and of course they are planning to load hundreds of euros a year in property charges onto ordinary householders – many of whom simply won’t have the money to pay. We are now reaching the crunch point in terms of this cruel and disastrous austerity agenda either people take to the streets and fight over the coming months or they will be crushed with poverty. The key priority of the ULA over the coming weeks and months before the budget will be to do all in our power to unite all the different groups that are being threatened with cuts and to mobilise them onto the streets to resist this economic madness.”
Clare Daly TD commented:
“Our major campaigning focus will be opposition to the household, property, water and septic tank taxes. The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes remains the most significant grassroots campaign against austerity in the state. The campaign is embarking on a comprehensive round of public meetings to galvanise the mass non-payment, and ready people for the threat of court action and the major property tax which will be in December’s budget. Threats by County Councils to withhold student grants unless the household tax has been paid on their home are outrageous, and will be faced down. A stunning blow against the government is within sight on the Household Tax issue if people hold firm.
Joan Collins TD said:
“The United Left Alliance while championing the opposition to austerity in the Dáil sees real change coming from the active participation of working people and the unemployed in struggles and campaigns. United Left Alliance public representatives and supporters favour working with the widest spectrum of groups as is possible to build for a major pre-budget mobilisation against the €3.5 billion in cuts and unfair tax impositions. The effect of the cuts since the crisis began is cumulative and increasing numbers of people are beyond breaking point as each budget is introduced.”
Seamus Healy TD added:
“The government and its most ardent supporters in the media will doubtlessly try to distract us with the discussions taking place at EU and ECB level regarding a deal on the bank debt. Talk of a deal is a realisation that the existing terms are simply impossible but regardless of this fact, the attacks will get still get worse and destroy any economic potential for growth in employment. The economic madness of austerity has been proved but yet they continue with the policy.The reality is that five years of damage has already been done to the lives of ordinary people and we have had enough.”
Summing up Joe Higgins TD said:
“Sinn Féin’s verbal opposition to austerity in the South is compromised by their having signed up to the same in the North and the understanding that they would administer cuts in the South if they had an opportunity to enter government. This poses starkly the need for a radical left alternative not straight-jacketed by the logic of the capitalist markets. This means repudiation of the debt, democratic public ownership of the financial institutions, taxing wealth and public investment in jobs. The United Left Alliance will be to the fore in arguing that alternative in the coming months.”
CHECK OUT OTHER RELATED ARTICLES:
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- Press Statement: United Left Alliance announces general election challenge today
- Statement agreed at the foundation of the United Left Alliance
- ULA Press Statement: Labour’s attack on Fine Gael as the ‘party of austerity’ is cynical and opportunist
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