Protests bring 100,000 on to streets
Around 100,000 people took to the streets across the country today to vent their anger at proposed cuts in pay and services.
As mass protests were held in eight towns and cities trade union chiefs warned the Government that workers would continue to fight against further cutbacks.
In Dublin, tens of thousands ground the city centre to halt as they marched and held a public rally in Merrion Square.
In a rousing speech Siptu president Jack O’Connor vowed the protests would continue unless the Government targeted the richest in society rather than the least well-off.
“We will not go away, we will not roll over, we will not surrender regardless of what they do,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We insist the people at the top of society pay their contribution and that is the only solution to this particular issue.”
Dublin’s march began in Parnell Square and weaved its way across the city to Merrion Square.
Although gardaí estimated 30,000 people attended the march, organisers claimed the turnout was as high as 70,000.
David Begg, Ictu general secretary, said the people were marching to prevent the Government from pushing the country into further economic difficulties.
“Our purpose is to prevent this Government from embarking upon an extraordinary deflationary budget, the effect of which would almost certainly cast this country into a deep slump and would possibly turn recession into depression.”
Patricia King, Ictu vice president, told the crowd 2009 would be a defining year in the history of the country.
Civil servants, gardaí, fire officers, pensioners, teachers and construction workers were among the protesters holding banners with slogans such as ’Romantic Ireland is dead and gone’ and ’Some rob you with a six gun, others with a fountain pen.’
Many wore yellow t-shirts demanding the Government come up with a better, fairer way to pull the country out of recession.
Noreen Grimes, 53, a cleaner at Dublin’s St James’ Hospital, warned the time for negotiation was over.
“I’m down €150 euro (a month) in my wages... I can’t afford this. These are all votes for the Government and when the next election comes around they’re out.
“Words are not making any difference. We have to take action. That’s why we’re here.”
George Harmon was one of 26 pensioners who travelled from Gorey to protest at possible plans to slash the social welfare budget.
“We marched before when they tried to take our medical card away,” he said.
“For God’s sake cut out the corruption and then you wouldn’t have to make these vicious cuts. Start with the top.”
Retired construction worker Christopher Byrne said he wanted to show solidarity with his former co-workers.
He branded the Government a disgrace.
“The construction industry here is gone, it’s finished, it’ll never come back again the way it was.”
An Post worker Suzanne Murtagh said both her sons, aged 18 and 20, were unemployed and unable to find a job.
“How low on the ground do they (Government) have to see us?” she asked.
Organisers estimated around 15,000 people turned up at a rally in Waterford, 20,000 in Cork, 15,000 in Limerick, 10,000 in Galway, 5,000 in Sligo, and 5,000 in Dundalk.
