1,000 protest in Jobs not Cuts rally
More than 1,000 people took part in a Jobs not Cuts march from the headquarters of nationalised Anglo Irish Bank on Saint Stephen’s Green in Dublin to Leinster House to coincide with the start of the new Dáil term.
They were supported by Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, the Right To Work Campaign and a majority of Dublin city councillors and joined more than 20 other groups who took part in protest against a variety of topics, including healthcare and children’s rights.
In Galway, a protest by SIPTU and the community and voluntary sector was held in Eyre Square and marched to the door of Anglo Irish Bank in the city.
Speaking outside Leinster House, Mr O’Connor said the Government’s fiscal plan was “a route to self-destruction” and called for progressive tax measures rather than cuts in the December budget.
Groups representing the unemployed formed a giant dole queue outside the Dáil, carrying placards with the numbers of people on the live register.
“We are calling on the Government to guarantee that no further cuts will be made to social welfare payments in this year’s budget,” said John Stewart of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU).
Meanwhile the Children’s Mental Health Coalition delivered five giant pencil cases to Children’s Minister Barry Andrews, reminding him to focus on mental health issues for young people during this Dáil term.
Patients Together also participated in yesterday’s protest, and Dublin cyclist Dave Murphy cycled around the Dáil for 24 hours as part of his campaign to call on the Government to introduce a national health test.
Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín O Caoláin said the demonstrations showed a “significant mobilisation” of public anger with the measures being taken by the Government to deal with the banking and financial crisis.
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