The People Before Profit Alliance today launched its campaign against the Fiscal Treaty and outlined its plan to challenge the arguments being put forward by the Government and others on the Yes side. Speaking at the launch were Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Joan Collins TD, Cllr Pat Dunne, Cllr Melisa Halpin and Ailbhe Smyth (Chair, People Before Profit Alliance). People Before Profit condemns the bullying tactics of the government and in particular Michael Noonan’s threats to impose further austerity in the event of a No vote and the alliance today called on the government to debate the real contents of the treaty rather than using scare tactics. The reality is that signing up to this Treaty would mean signing up to billions in further cuts. The central slogan of the campaign is Bailout People not Banks.
In his statement, Richard Boyd Barrett TD said,”The government is trying to frighten the people with talk of the dire consequences which will follow a No vote. The latest disgraceful example is Michael Noonan’s threat to impose further austerity” ‘This is a smokescreen to avoid discussing the actual content of the Treaty” ‘If passed, the Fiscal Treaty will lead to fines being imposed on Ireland, should it fail to meet artificial targets set by the EU. These fines could amount to €160 million and would cause further hardship. ‘The Treaty also gives the EU Commission greater powers to lay down guidelines on the type of ‘corrective action’ that Ireland would have to take. ‘The track record of the EU Commission and the ECB is already plain to see. ‘They have pressed Ireland to bail out banks in order to help shore up the European banking system. They have also insisted that we pay property charges and water charges’ ‘Why should we vote Yes to give more powers to an unelected agency that does not have our interests at heart?’

Joan Collins TD said,“Austerity is not working. €25 billion has been taken out of the Irish economy through cuts and tax increases. At the time of the Lisbon II vote in 2009 we were told vote ‘Yes’ for jobs – but there are now 120,000 fewer people in work. It’s no wonder the state will need another bailout in the coming years. Money is available for another bailout under the existing program – the statement of the European Council of January 30 makes that clear. We reject the blackmail threats of the government and its supporters.” “The Austerity Treaty would turn this recession into an economic depression. It would bring at least €5.7 billion additional cuts and taxes from 2015, on top of the €8.6 billion austerity up til then. And for what? To ensure that the banks and bondholders are paid in full. The household tax is part of this austerity program. It’s effectively a bank-bailout tax. I call on all who oppose continued cuts, and taxes such as the home and water taxes, to vote against the austerity treaty.” “A no vote in Ireland is a vote for hope, a vote for change.” “It is a vote to join the movement in opposition to austerity across Europe – in France, Spain and Greece. A no vote is the beginning of an alternative that puts people before the profits of banks and bondholders.”

Ailbhe Smith, Chairperson of People Before Profit, said today, “People in Ireland are already suffering enormous hardship due to austerity and cuts. Vulnerable communities have been disproportionately affected with women and children bearing the brunt of the cuts. Poverty, in particular child poverty, is growing and it is vitally important to Vote No to this austerity treaty “.

Cllr. Melisa Halpin, Dun Laoghaire: “For many the idea of balancing a budget seems sensible but the point is that countries are not like individuals. The way to exit out of an economic crisis is to invest in jobs which in turn will create more jobs, create more revenue. When we call for a No we call for state investment in schools, hospitals, housing and jobs to get us out of this crisis.”

Supporting Workers and Communities Resisting Austerity
Tuesday May 1st 6.30pm
Assemble Parnell Square
Organised by the Dublin Trade Council

In recent days there is widespread manipulation of figures to make the Government position look a little less dreadful.

The baseline figure for registration is 1.8 million NOT the 1.6 million which is being used in the last few days. Therefore as of last night the numbers recorded (482,000) as having registered is 27 % of the 1.8 million. This leaves more than 1.3 million who have not registered or 73%.
Keep Up The Boycott:

We urge the ordinary people all over the country to keep up the huge Boycott of the Household Tax which is their rejection, not just of a new tier of taxation which will quickly go to €1,000 but of the disastrous policy of Austerity which is wrecking our society.

Support for Protest March to Fine Gael Ard Fheis this Saturday Starting at the Garden of Remembrance at 1.00PM

We fully support the demonstration on Saturday and believe that a major, well disciplined and peaceful demonstration of people power will be further evidence of the strength of the Campaign. We call on all those who support the Campaign to attend with their families for a genuine show of the real feelings of the majority of ordinary people in this country.

We now demand that the Government withdraw the Household Tax forthwith and cease bullying the decent majority of our people who have financed this State for decades while rich elites cheated.

Signed

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan TD, Mick Wallace TD, John Halligan TD, Thomas Pringle, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Seamus Healy TD, Joan Collins TD, Clare Daly TD, Joe Higgins TD.

Also on Saturday the 24th of March there is National Campaign Rally in the National Stadium on South Circular Road in Dublin 8. Book your place on the website now.http://nohouseholdtax.org/national-assembly-march-24th/. There is no charge but space is limited!

Join us and Help build the Campaign
BALLYFERMOT will be having their Fight the  Household Charge Meeting on Monday 23rd of January @ 8pm in the United Football Club. Blackditch Rd.

INCHICORE will be having their Fight the  Household Charge Meeting on Tuesday 24th of January @ 8pm in the Annex at the Oblates in chicore.

DRIMNAGH will be having their Fight the  Household Charge Meeting on Friday 27th of January @ 8pm Bosco Youth Club, Davitt Road

CHAPELIZOD will be having their Fight the  Household Charge Meeting on Wednesday 1st of February @ 8pm in the Village Inn

‘The Greyhound company have no right to demand €100 up front from people. They only want this money so that they can build up their financial reserves at our expense.

‘The manner in which DublinCity Council have withdrawn from waste collection represents a huge historical set back.

‘Waste collection has been seen as a public service since the Victorian era – -it should not be regarded as an opportunity to make profit.

There are three aspects of this arrangement which are deeply disturbing:

1.  Information on the exact financial arrangement between Dublin City Council and Greyhound are being withheld from elected representatives. Under the guise of ‘commercial sensitivity’ an insidious form of censorship has been imposed. But the people ofDublinhave every right to scrutinise arrangements made with private companies. What right do unelected city managers have to do deals without public transparency’.
2. Dublin City Council has given Greyhound the right to pursue people who owe the council money for waste charges. No information has been provided on how much money will go back to the council or what cut Greyhound will get. Instead a private company has been given the right to harass people who are already stressed out by huge bills.
3. The workers of Dublin City Council – who have given loyal service over the years have been treated in a disgraceful manner. They have been given no guarantees about their earnings – but have been told to turn up each morning like ‘spailpin fanaigh’ to wait outside the city council for work. This is no way to treat workers in the 21^st century.

I call on people to protest against this attack on public services and to take the example of the global Occupy movement and resist.

Minister Quinn last week order a review on the impact of  cuts to DEIS schools after reports from his own inspectorate and from the Education Research Centre detailed the real positive  impact DEIS is having on the attainment levels of pupils in these schools.

The cuts – which involve changes to the pupil-teacher ratio, the withdrawal of extra resources such as Support Teachers and changes to the way in which Learning Support and Language Support services are allocated – could result in all DEIS schools losing at least 1 – 2 frontline teachers, with some losing up to 8 teachers over the next three years.

Minister Quinn must now, having admitted his terrible mistake, ensure there is  a full and immediate reversal of all DEIS cuts. However, Minister Quinn has said that if he is to reverse anything he will have to make cuts elsewhere in education. This is not good enough and there are alternatives to cutting vital budgets in areas such as Education. A small increase in tax on the wealth in this country would cover the needs of the Education sector.

Councillor Brid Smith said “Parents, teachers and children have to keep up their campaign and keep the pressure on Minister Quinn and this FG/ Labour government because this backtracking in recent weeks regarding the cuts to disability and cuts on Education has shown people power can force the government’s hand. There should be no question of any other cuts in Education. We have to insist that this government puts our children and our future first and not the dictats of the Troika. Therefore I would urge all parents, teachers and  pupils to join this protest and show your support”.