Unions and opposition groups say ‘enough’ to Government cuts

TWO protests against austerity measures will greet the Government upon the resumption of the Dáil today.

Rallies will take place outside the Dáil at 1pm and 6pm and will involve a range of groups protesting under the slogan “enough”.

The organisations include the Unite Trade Union, the Dublin Trades Council, the People before Profit Alliance and the Housing Action Campaign.

They will be protesting against the terms and conditions of the EU/IMF bailout and the cutbacks the Government is imposing under the agreement.

There will be further protests in the weeks and months ahead.

TDs from the United Left Alliance have warned the Coalition to expect further resistance to cuts ahead of the December budget.

The ULA has five TDs — Joe Higgins and Clare Daly of the Socialist Party, Richard Boyd Barrett and Joan Collins of People before Profit, and Seamus Healy of the Workers and Unemployed Action Group — but also includes a range of left-wing groups.

The ULA said it would be mobilising a mass campaign of civil disobedience against the planned household charge, claiming the Government had declared war on homeowners.

Mr Boyd Barret vowed the group would be an opposition of action and not just words.

“We believe the key priority is to build a mass movement of resistance and people power opposed to these unjust, economically stupid austerity measures that this Government is trying to ram down our throats.

“So we will be dedicating ourselves in the run-up to the budget to building mass protest and mass mobilisation against austerity policies.”

Ms Daly said the group would resist the Government’s planned interim household charge, a precursor to a property tax due to take effect from January.

“All of us as TDs pledge to be at the forefront of a non-payment campaign — a mass campaign of civil disobedience where we intend to make this charge uncollectible.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams took a swipe at Labour’s poetry-writing presidential candidate, Michael D Higgins.

“We need someone who will not just feed us poetry, but who will actually in a very, very positive way face into the future because he or she trusts the people of Ireland, because he or she cherishes the people of Ireland, because he or she wants to see a real republic across the island.”

Sinn Féin’s ard comhairle is due to meet this weekend, following which the party is expected to announce its candidate for the Aras.

Mr Adams and Mary Lou McDonald have both ruled themselves out of the race.