Cllr Joan Collins calls for support for Department of Finance Protest

by francis hughes Wed Nov 24, 2010 23:29

more and more solidarity like that. keep it up, its our only chance.

by pat c Wed Nov 24, 2010 18:15

Protesters call for general strike

The People Before Profit Alliance has called for a general strike along with a movement of civil disobedience across the country.

Speaking to about 60 protesters outside the Department of Finance today, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor, Richard Boyd Barrett called on people to make their voices heard in the coming weeks.

"We need to stay on the streets until this Government is driven from office, and we want to nail the lie that there is no money in this country. That is a lie that is being used to bully and intimidate people," Mr Barrett said.

"Credible estimates by economists in this country suggest that there are €100 to €120 billion in accumulated wealth, assets, cash, bonds and property assets in the hands of the top 5 per cent of the population of this country. Put even a five percent tax on that money and you get the six billion that they are planning to take off the pensioners and poor of this country."

The protest first gathered outside the Department of Finance at 12.30pm before moving to the Merrion Hotel across the road - as one protester put it "to ruin their (politicians') lunch."

Simultaneously, a separate Sinn Féin protest was being held outside the Department of the Taoiseach. After the People Before Profit Alliance protesters moved to outside the same department, it meant close to 100 protesters were eventually present outside.

The organisers expressed the hope people will come out in their thousands on Saturday for the workers' protest march to the GPO in O'Connell Street and that the Ictu will be convinced to call a general strike.

Actor and satirist Morgan C Jones has called on people to participate in a silent protest outside Leinster House at midday tomorrow carrying placards with the message "you're fired" for the Government.