Speaking
at a pre-budget rally outside the Dáil today (Wed 9th December) Padraig Mannion (left), research officer of the
Workers Party called for the greatest possible unity amongst the working class and progressive and left wing parties to defeat
the draconian which is coming down the tracks.
“As
we face into this budget let me immediately destroy one government inspired myth. This is the myth that “we are all
in the same boat - we are all in this together”. This is arrant nonsense. The young family who were forced to pay €300
– 400,000 for their home and are now struggling with a crippling mortgage are in a much different boat from the unscrupulous
speculator who pocketed €200,000 profit from that very same house”.
“The
family that has to juggle their food or utility bills in order to visit a doctor; and the family that has to queue for hours
in A&E, and wait months for specialist care are in a completely different boat from the consultant topping up their private
fees with a €5,000 per week HSE salary.”
The second
myth which we must shatter is “there is no alternative”. Again this is utter rubbish. However to take the alternative
route would mean Fianna Fail and their Green Party partners deserting the builders and the bankers and this will not happen.
In the Health Service, for example, there is a stark choice – cut front line services or cut the subsidy to private
hospitals, private clinics, private insurance companies and cut the salary of the 66% of consultants who are double jobbing.
We know the choice we would make but we also know that this government will protect its private sector friends.”
“The
Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance have repeated, ad nauseam, that there is no scope for further taxes. But at least 6,000
of the wealthiest people in this state pay no tax at all. These people are so wealthy that they can afford to jet in and out
of Ireland every second day to maintain the fiction of being domiciled elsewhere and
therefore availing of “tax exile” status. These people are tax fugitives and cannot be allowed to continue to
flout the law of the land. They must be taxed on their income exactly as every bin-man; postman, or nurse in this country
is taxed. And furthermore, as 34% of wealth is owned by a mere 1% of the population then equity demands that a wealth tax
is introduced with all possible haste”.
“Jobs
can be created in this country. We must also highlight that the wealth of this country, our natural resources of minerals,
gas and oil, are being robbed before our very eyes. In grubby deals reeking of corruption massive resources like the Navan
Mines and the Corrib Gas field are handed over to foreign multinationals for a mere pittance if indeed there is any charge.
We repeat that our natural resources could and should be the basis for massive employment and high value exports and could
lay the foundation for sustainable long term economic growth as has happened in Norway.”
“The
state and the media have gone to extraordinary lengths to foster division amongst us. They have attempted to set state employee
against private sector employee; to set the employed worker against the unemployed worker; to set full time worker against
the casual worker. It is vital that we do not succumb to this divide and conquer tactic. Unity is strength and from strength
comes victory”.