Why we must all march on Saturday, 9th February

Wednesday 6 February 2013

There are €64 billion reasons why you should come out and march this Saturday, 9th February, at the national Day of Action organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

This protest will highlight the unfair and unsustainable €64 billion bank debt which is crippling the Irish economy and decimating the social fabric of our country.

Ireland has paid more than any other EU country to “save” the European banking system. So far the Irish people have paid €41 billion (not including money taken from the National Pension Reserve Fund), or for every Irish citizen €9,000. Compare that to the average across the EU of €192 per person and it illustrates the heavy lifting that the Irish people have so far done.

Over the past five years we’ve seen local shops closing down, hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs, thousands more of our children forced to emigrate in order to have a decent future. Retail workers have experienced cuts to wages, cuts to hours and reductions in living standards. We’ve seen cuts to our health services and our social protection rates. We’ve experienced higher taxes, closed Garda stations and seen vital services to vulnerable families like child benefit and fuel allowances cut. And all to save banks who were part of a corrupt culture among senior Eurozone bankers that saw the biggest bonuses awarded to the most reckless lenders.

On March 31st, Ireland is due to pay another €3.1 billion to Anglo Irish Bank bondholders. That’s the equivalent of our entire primary school budget for the year. In May, Ireland is scheduled to pay almost €3 billion to Bank of Ireland bondholders. That’s the entire budget for our post-primary school budget for the year. Then in March of next year, we’re again due to pay €3.1 billion on the Anglo promissory notes. That means that within 12 months, Ireland will have paid bondholders across Europe the equivalent of our entire educational system.

That’s a total of €8.6 billion that could be invested in our schools, hospitals and other vital services. It’s €8.6 billion taken out of the pockets of Irish workers putting more pressure on the domestic economy and shutting down shops and other businesses. It’s estimated that the €3.1 billion due for payment next month could conservatively create over 30,000 jobs. This at a time when we already have almost 15% unemployment and mass emigration. The debt is simply not sustainable and we simply cannot afford to pay these bondholders for their failed investments.

Mandate Trade Union, along with other unions and civic society organisations, is supporting the ICTU national rallies and the campaign against the repayment of bank debt. On February 9th, we’ll be marching in each of the six locations throughout Ireland and we’re asking you to take part at your nearest rally too.

Whether you’re a worker who has lost their job, or a social welfare recipient who is struggling to make ends meet. Whether you’re a business owner or a trade unionist. Whether you’re a mother, father, grandparent or child, it is in your interests to stand up and say that enough is enough. We cannot continue to make endless sacrifices to protect the bondholders.

Join us on February 9th 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.

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