Final nails in the coffin of retail sector

THE admission by Finance Minister Michael Noonan that he intends to increase the VAT rate to 23% in the run up to Christmas will surely be the final nail in the coffin to the retailers of this bankrupt state.

The private sector, the engine of the economy, has been pummelled and is now to be filleted on the high altar of a mad fiscal austerity policy: even our new paymasters in the troika would not place further obstacles to the ability of the free market to operate. There is no doubt this will further depress the retail trade and send millions over the boarder this Christmas.

The Labour rump in Government is effectively wagging the Fine Gael dog; they have been welded to a bankrupt Croke Park agreement which is purely designed to protect their cosseted constituency. As Shane Ross stated when comrades O’Connor and Begg are silent they are happy as their friends in government are pursuing their selfish and destructive agenda.