Jack O’Connor calls for strategic investment in domestic economy
The Irish Government must immediately “ramp up the domestic economy” or face exacerbating the economic and social crisis in which the country is locked was the message from SIPTU President Jack O’Connor to delegates.
He said that only by “immediately abandoning one-sided austerity” was there even a slim prospect of Ireland meeting a commitment to its international lenders to reduce the Government deficit to under 3% by 2015 and exit the “troika strait jacket”.
“It can be done by deploying the breathing space afforded by the Promissory note deal to offset further cuts, accompanied by a major campaign across all departments and public institutions to lever in the €6 billion which has been re-designated from the National Pension Reserve Fund for strategic investment.”
O’Connor concluded: “After that, the Fine Gael party must lift its veto on a tax contribution from wealth and those on high incomes to generate a further €1 billion over two budgets. Such an approach offers the possibility of achieving the 3% target, if we get a deal on the retrospective re-capitalisation of the banks in accordance with the agreement of the European Council on the 29th June last year.
“This way we can buy the time it will take for the trade union movement and civil society to mount the challenge that will bring about a more enlightened policy at European Union level – and this is the only way that it can be done.”
Liberty Online is produced by the Communications Department of SIPTU. Liberty Online is distributed on a regular basis to members who are on the SIPTU e-mail data base. In order to maximize circulation of this news bulletin and other messages and statements we urgently ask recipients to gather the e-mail addresses of other SIPTU members who are not already on the data base. Please forward e-mail addresses to communications@siptu.ie
SIPTU Head Office | Liberty Hall | Dublin 1 | Ireland
