The estimates vary – anything between 10,000 and 20,000 people took part in a march against austerity in Dublin City Centre on Saturday. Campaigners, unions and far left groups joined in the protest – some of them voicing frustration at the trade union movement because of its support for the Labour party. At one point hecklers had a go at Eugene McGlone , the President of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions. Sinn Fein and the United Left Alliance were accused – though some of those attending the rally said it was spontaneous. Jimmy Kelly Regional Secretary of Unite and ...
How do other countries experiencing difficulties view Ireland Are we in Ireland out of the woods of austerity yet? We think things are getting better, house prices are stabilising, retail figures are positive and IBEC say tht GDP is set to grow by nearly 2%. But is this and the government’s positive spin right or should we look to rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s negative assessment earlier in the month..... Well what do fellow travellers in austerity think of us and our prospects.....this morning we are going to look at how other countries experiencing austerity are assessing Ireland. Pat was ...
Is it time for our Government to take the foot of the austerity pedal and stimulate the economy? Some economic gurus including Ashoka Mody, former IMF chief of mission to Ireland, have claimed that austerity is not working. The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso said the EU should place a greater emphasis on policies that stimulate growth and less on so called austerity measures – “ I think this policy (austerity) is working on Ireland- it is a painful programme but it is working”. Perhaps it’s a shift in EU policy, an acknowledgement that austerity has failed, or a ...
President Michael D Higgins has in recent weeks questioned harsh austerity measures being imposed on countries across Europe. His forthright comments in the Financial Times have been praised by those who say he is articulating the views of ordinary people. But others are concerned that he may have overstepped his role as President. Shane Ross Independent TD joined Pat this morning.