Labour voted against the EU austerity “six-pack” in European Parliament, but now wants similar measures put into the Irish constitution.

Labour was right last November: “this legislative package will reinforce the EU austerity programme, driving us into recession” – Prionsias De Rossa

In the aftermath of the Labour Party Conference, the United Left Alliance branded the Labour Party as being two-faced for supporting the Austerity Treaty.

Speaking outside Labour’s HQ in Ely Place, Paul Murphy MEP said:

“At the Labour Party conference, Eamon Gilmore claimed that the Austerity Treaty is about ‘bringing stability to the Euro’. This is ‘double-speak’, because it will do the opposite. The deficit reduction required by this Treaty would deepen the recession by imposing cuts and tax rises of €160 billion across Europe – causing economic devastation for millions and further financial instability. And Labour’s voting record in the European Parliament shows their two-faced response to the austerity drive of the EU”.

Joan Collins TD said:

“Proponents of the Yes side, including the Labour Party, claim that this Austerity Treaty is largely the same as the so-called six-pack of economic measures passed in the European Parliament last year. Prionsias de Rossa correctly stated that ‘this legislative package will reinforce the EU austerity programme, driving us into recession.’ All three Labour MEPs voted against four of the six-pack legislative measures, so why are they now supporting similar measures in the Austerity Treaty? ”

Joe Higgins TD said:

“The Labour Party must answer the question. How can it vote against the six-pack in the winter, condemning it for the austerity it will impose – and then call for people to vote for this Treaty in the spring, thereby writing key aspects of that six-pack into the Irish constitution? We call on all genuine activists within the Labour Party to publicly declare their opposition to this Treaty and to campaign for a No vote.”