FEBRUARY 9 PROTESTS TO GO AHEAD

Thursday 7 February 2013

Mandate Trade Union say it is even more critical that as many people as possible turnout for Saturday’s (February 9th) protests following yesterday’s emergency legislation in the Oireachtas.

Mandate has taken the position that any deal with the ECB should involve a significant write down in debt or a full repudiation of the debt, particularly considering this was never the debt of the Irish people in the first place.

The existing deal, as it has been reported today, will not achieve a reduction in the principle debt that will be paid to bondholders. The fact is, it will just be paid over a longer period of time and will result in our children and grandchildren paying back a debt that was never ours in the first place.

The banking crisis in Europe has so far cost the Irish people €9,000 per person, while the average across the EU is €192. Ireland has borne 42.6% of the total net costs of the European bank debt crisis and this is simply unfair and unsustainable.

Protests will take continue to take place in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo and Waterford this Saturday and it is vital that as many people come out on the streets and voice their opposition to Ireland paying this unfair debt.

Read more about why we should all march here.

Join us at the following locations.

Dublin

  • Time: 1pm assembly to depart at 2pm
  • Assembly point: Near Wood Quay at the junction of Winetavern Street and Cook Street (opposite the Dublin City Council car park entrance).
  • Route: Cook Street to Merrion Square via Dame Street.

Limerick

  • Assembly Time: 1.30pm
  • Assembly Point: Mechanics Institute, Hartstonge Street, Limerick

Cork

  • Assemble Time: 1.30pm
  • Assembly Point: SIPTU Offices, Connolly Hall, Lapps Quay, Cork
  • Route: Leave Connolly Hall at 2pm on to Parnell Place, Merchants Quay, St.Patrick’s St and assemble at lower end of the Grand Parade for speeches.

Sligo Rally

  • Assembly Time: 1.30pm
  • Assembly Point: Sligo County Council Offices, Riverside, Silgo
  • Route: Leaving Sligo Council Council, Riverside proceeding through the town and finishing up in O’Connell Street, Sligo for rally at 2pm.

Waterford Rally

  • Assembly Time: 1.30pm
  • Assembly Point: The Glen (in front of the Forum), Waterford
  • Route: Down the Quay, right at the Clock Tower, onto Barron Street, into John Robert’s Square for rally and speeches.

Galway Rally

  • Assembly Time: 1.30pm
  • Assembly Point: Cathedral Car Park, Galway
  • Route: Over the Salmon Weir Bridge around by the Courthouse, right onto Francis Street leading into Eglington Street, turn right at Brown Thomas straight down Shop Street, veer left onto High Street and continue down Quay Street, finish at Spanish Arch.