Adams calls for treaty rejection

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has today called for the Irish electorate to vote against the EU fiscal treaty in the upcoming referendum.

“The policies of austerity are stripping local communities of essential services – of schools, of guidance counsellors, hospitals, post-offices and Garda stations,” he said in Castlebar this morning.

“It is also adding new stealth taxes like the Universal Social Charge, the Household Charge, VAT increases, motor tax increases and septic tank charges. Businesses, shops and pubs in rural towns and villages are closing.

“The Taoiseach is signing that treaty this morning. He wants to hand significant new powers over to the European Court of Justice and the European Commission.

“Mr Kenny is allowing these institutions to impose economic policies on democratically elected governments and to impose heavy fines where they believe these policies have not been adhered to.

“And as part of this the Government plans to cut a further €8.6bn from the economy in the next three years to meet the Troika deficit target of 3%.

“Enda Kenny and Eamonn Gilmore’s austerity treaty demands that this deficit be reduced to a 0.5% target. This means that up to a further €6bn in cuts and new taxes will be imposed!

“But thankfully the Irish people will have their say. The Irish people cannot afford this Treaty.

“Sinn Féin will campaign for a No vote. That is the democratic option.”

Deputy Adams was launching a process of consultation with rural Ireland regarding access to public services.

“Our goal is to produce a plan for the regeneration and growth of rural communities,” he said.

“It is the policies of this Government, as well as the last, which are contributing to the crisis in rural Ireland.

“Mayo, the birthplace of Michael Davitt, is a good place to start the fight-back for rural communities which have been betrayed by the Government.”