Poor and ill pay for resources giveaway

THE HSE West decision to slash its budget by a further €50m is presented by it and the Government as unavoidable and necessary.

It is neither.

These health cuts, just like attacks on other essential public services, workers’ pay and social welfare, are deliberate political decisions taken by a Government that cares nothing for the poverty, suffering and illness they cause.

They say they have not the money to fund these services, yet they have no hesitation in pumping tens of billions of euro into bailing out the banks. While targeting the cuts at working class people, they refuse to target the wealthy elite who created this crisis in the first place.

Off the west coast, where these latest health cuts are to be imposed, lie tens of billions of euro worth of oil and gas. The Government is spending millions to facilitate their giveaway to multinationals like Shell. These reserves could be nationalised, refined safely at sea and the wealth used to provide sustainable, first-class health, housing and education services for all.

So any debate about cutbacks needs to start from an honest position, not based on the false premise that they are unavoidable and that the finance is not there. The wealth exists, but Fianna Fáil and the Greens have shown their priority is to protect the wealthy elite, the banks and giant multinationals at the expense of the most vulnerable in society.

Joanne McDonald

Lr Kimmage Road

Dublin 6