Campaign against spending cuts proposed

national | miscellaneous | news report

Thursday November 21, 2002 20:13

by Finghin - Socialist Party

Ireland.com news report (21-11-02, 18:03 )

A protest campaign against the Government's programme of cutbacks in public expenditure was launched in Dublin today.

The aim of the campaign is to pressurise the Government into reinstating the first time buyers grant in conjunction with measures to control speculation in building land, to extend the medical card scheme as had been planned and to reverse the cuts in all crucial areas including schools and transport.

The campaign was launched by Socialist Party TD Mr Joe Higgins; Independent TD Mr Tony Gregory; Mr Seamus Healy (Tipperary Workers and Unemployed Action Group) and Councillor Ms Clare Daly (shop steward in Dublin Airport).

They called for a protest march on Budget Day, December 4th, to give people the chance to voice their anger at the Government cutbacks. People are asked to meet during at 1pm at the Central Bank Plaza before proceeding to Dáil Eireann.

According to the campaign's press release the cuts are not necessary and come from decisions by Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats "to shift an enormous amount of wealth to big business, speculators and the very wealthy."

"Now at the first hint of economic slowdown, working people are being penalised," it concluded.