Budget targets working class

national | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Tuesday October 14, 2008 22:02 by Des Dalton - Republican Sinn Fein saoirse at iol dot ie 223 Parnell St Dublin 1 01 8729747

Statement from the Vice President of Republican Sinn Fein Des Dalton reacting to the 26-County Budget.

The budget announced by Brian Lenihan targets those who profited least from the so-called ‘Celtic Tiger’ of the past ten years whilst those who profited most go largely unscathed. The Dublin administration’s neo-liberal economic agenda coupled with a cosy relationship with developers and the banks resulted in a free for all of easy credit, massive debt and huge profits for a small minority. Now that the house of cards has collapsed tax payers money is being used to bail out the banks without any regulation and it is working people who are being forced to foot the bill.

The one per cent levy on income will hit hardest those on the average industrial wage or lower and will wipe out the minimal pay increases contained within the proposed 26-County pay deal. While targeting working people the Dublin administration is ensuring that voices of protest will be muzzled by effectively closing down organisations such as the Combat Poverty Agency, the Office of Social Inclusion and the Educational Disadvantage Committee amongst others.

The neo-liberal economics of Fianna Fáil and the soon to be disbanded PDs view people as cogs in the wheels of the economy rather that the economy being there to serve the needs of society, in terms providing people with viable income, housing, schools hospitals and social services. Republican Sinn Féin's social and economic programme SAOL NUA sets out the basis for creating such an economy in a New Ireland.