Sunday, April 29, 2012

The most important decision you’ll ever make – Kelly


Cllr Anthony Kelly has agreed with the assertion of government parties that how we vote in the fiscal compact referendum on the 31st of May might well be the most important political decision we ever make. Speaking as the Sinn Féin Austerity Treaty Road Show visited Enniscorthy and Gorey last Saturday (28th) Cllr Kelly said that voting no to the austerity treaty was voting yes to a credible chance of recovery.
Cllr Kelly said;

“Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour had colourful posters out during the Lisbon Treaty campaign a few years back depicting the hopeful message ‘yes to jobs and recovery’. Of course we never saw those jobs and it’s now obvious that the spin doctors of those parties lied to get the Lisbon Treaty ratified by the Irish people. I won’t go as far as to say that a no vote will lead to jobs and recovery but it will give us some hope of recovery. The alternative to a no vote is the final nail in the coffin for this nation.”

“If people are planning on voting yes to this treaty then they should be aware of what they are voting yes to. I would agree with government spokespeople who have described this referendum as the most important political decision we’ll ever make. If we accept this treaty we accept permanent austerity, permanent unemployment, permanent emigration and permanent poverty. We accept it with the strict stipulation that we will never be able to change it by any parliamentary majority.”

“I’m calling on the people of County Wexford to make themselves aware of what this treaty is truly about. Don’t rely on the opinions of people who told you a yes vote in the last referendum was a vote for jobs. Where are those jobs? They deceived you and they might just be prepared to do the same now. Inform yourself about this treaty. Our Austerity Treaty Road Show is moving across the county. If you have any questions about the treaty don’t be afraid to approach the staff running our mobile information centre. Don’t look back in years to come and wish you had learned more about a referendum that may well be the most important political decision you’ll ever have the opportunity to make.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Austerity Treaty Road Show hits Enniscorthy & Gorey

Wexford Sinn Féins Austerity Treaty Road Show visited the towns of Enniscorthy and Gorey today in its on-going effort to make the public aware of the dangers of ratifying the fiscal compact treaty on the 31st of May and of the alternatives that are available to us. Speaking before the road show began; Cllr Johnny Mythen insisted that there were alternatives to voting yes to this treaty.

 “There are alternatives to permanent austerity,” Cllr Mythen said, “Sinn Féin has consistently argued that the only way out of recession is to seize the initiative by investing in a major stimulus programme. If the core EU nations like Germany who are pushing this treaty are serious about ending the Euro zone crisis then they need to see that investment in Ireland is more worthwhile than forcing constricting austerity down our throats.”

“If the EU increased the lending capacity of the European Investment Bank it would allow member states like Ireland to roll out major projects in order to generate employment, increase competitiveness and improve the social and economic infrastructure, leading to both immediate and long term economic growth. Immediately the EIB could aid struggling member states to stimulate their economies and by doing so reduce their deficits without destroying their countries in the process. In the long term the EIB could act as a mechanism for recycling a portion of budget surpluses from core EU nations into the economies of periphery nations which would benefit people across the union.”

The people of Enniscorthy seemed genuinely interested in what the hardworking members of Wexford Sinn Féin had to say, including a few members of Fine Gael who snuck out of Minister Paul Kehoes office to get a better look. As usual the government chief whip was nowhere to be seen.

Later the Road Show moved on the Gorey where afternoon shoppers were treated to the site of Angela Merkel operating a Brendan Howlin TD puppet, one of the many images emblazoned across the Austerity Treaty Information Centre. Many thanks to all those locals in Enniscorthy and Gorey who signed up to the Wexford campaign against the Austerity Treaty today.

The Austerity Treaty Road Show will be back in Wexford Town next weekend, but keep an eye out for her making unscheduled appearances across rural Wexford over the coming days. You can sign up to join the rapidly growing campaign against the Austerity Treaty in County Wexford by simply texting JOIN followed by your name and address to 086-2397192. Also you can learn more about the terms of the austerity treaty at www.austeritytreaty.com.

Alternative to Permanent Austerity exists – Mythen


Cllr Mythen with Mary Lou
McDonald TD & Noirin Sheridan
 There are alternatives to institutionalising the permanent austerity measures outlined in the EU Fiscal Compact Treaty according to Enniscorthy Sinn Féin Cllr Johnny Mythen. Cllr Mythen outlined the alternatives his party are putting forward as the Austerity Treaty Road Show visits Enniscorthy and Gorey today. Sinn Féin is calling for a write off of banking debt, the cleansing of the European banking system and an increase in the lending capacity of the European Investment Bank which should be used to fund job creation programmes in struggling EU member states such as Ireland.

“There are alternatives to permanent austerity,” Cllr Mythen said, “Sinn Féin has consistently argued that the only way out of recession is to seize the initiative by investing in a major stimulus programme. If the core EU nations like Germany who are pushing this treaty are serious about ending the Eurozone crisis then they need to see that investment in Ireland is more worthwhile than forcing constricting austerity down our throats.”

“If the EU increased the lending capacity of the European Investment Bank it would allow member states like Ireland to roll out major projects in order to generate employment, increase competitiveness and improve the social and economic infrastructure, leading to both immediate and long term economic growth. Immediately the EIB could aid struggling member states to stimulate their economies and by doing so reduce their deficits without destroying their countries in the process. In the long term the EIB could act as a mechanism for recycling a portion of budget surpluses from core EU nations into the economies of periphery nations which would benefit people across the union.”

“The Fiscal Compact Treaty attempts to introduce strict new controls over debt to GDP rations. Next year it’s expected that our debt to GDP ratio will hit 120%. Controls won’t reduce this now. A Debt write off would. Sinn Féin is campaigning for the write down of debts that were originally banking debts, leaving us only our sovereign debt to contend with. Such a write off would see our debt to GDP ratio fall by 20% immediately.”

“There is also a responsibility on the European Central Bank to help struggling nations return to the bond markets. Under existing European Treaties the ECB is instructed to prevent any Eurozone member state from being frozen out of the markets and, if necessary, be prepared to stabilise the price of sovereign bonds. The ECB could do this by buying Government bonds of countries currently excluded or at risk of exclusion from the markets. Such bond buying programmes should be done in parallel with programmes agreed between the member state and the ECB detailing strategies for deficit reduction, economic growth and debt reduction.”

“These measures are genuine achievable alternatives to the fiscal compact treaty. They are alternatives that put the need for real investment into stagnant economies to the forefront and relegate failed austerity to the history books where it belongs. Austerity has never brought a nation out of recession but stimulus has. Its time those people shouting for the introduction of this austerity treaty accept that clear and concise alternatives exist and that the Irish people won’t be fooled by their Chicken Little rhetoric of no alternatives.”

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Kelly calls on public to join the campaign against austerity in County Wexford


Cllr Anthony Kelly has called on people sick and tired of failed politics and regressive economics to join the campaign against the austerity treaty in County Wexford. Cllr Kelly made his comments at a meeting in Wexford town last night where Wexford Sinn Féin announced details of countywide public meetings over the next month to highlight the dangers of a yes vote in the May 31st Fiscal Compact Referendum and to offer clear and concise alternatives.

“Alternatives to the alarming austerity measures outlined in this treaty exist,” Cllr Kelly said. “Supporters of the treaty, whether they are government or media based, have attacked those campaigning for a no vote to the fiscal compact referendum and stated that we cannot produce alternatives. This is simply untrue but we are being denied an opportunity in many arenas to answer these critics. That is why Wexford Sinn Féin is organising public meetings across the county over the coming weeks to inform the public of the true options available to them.”

Cllr Kelly campaigning with the Austerity Treaty Road Show in Wexford town last Saturday
 “If Ireland votes no to this treaty we will not be excluded from the EU, our membership being secure under the terms of previous treaties. We will not be denied future funding if needed, our membership ensures this and we will still be entitled to borrow from the EFSF in the immediate term. We will not witness the ATM machines of Ireland running dry. What we will see is a new chance for Ireland to break free of austerity and follow a new policy of stimulus and investment in the people which has unfortunately been missing from the plans of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail.”

“I’m calling on all the people of County Wexford who are confused or simply want to know more about the referendum to attend our public meetings. Meetings are planned for Bridgetown, New Ross, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Ferns, Bunclody, The Ballagh, Ballycullane and Murrintown in the next few weeks. I’m also calling on people to join the campaign against the austerity treaty in County Wexford by simply texting JOIN followed by your name and address to 086-2397192. Any help you can give, no matter how small you may think, will be welcome and a huge assistance in stopping the institutionalisation of austerity in Ireland.”

Public Meetings offer alternative to Austerity Treaty – Wexford Sinn Féin


Wexford Sinn Féin has announced details of countywide meetings to highlight the dangers of a yes vote in the May 31st Fiscal Compact Referendum and to offer realistic alternatives to the permanent austerity measures cited in the treaty. Speaking after a meeting of the County Wexford Sinn Féin Comhairle Ceantar Officer Board in Wexford town last night, new Chairman Oisin O’ Connell branded recent statements from government and pro treaty pundits as being ‘misleading, disingenuous and in some cases, blatant falsehoods.’

Mr O’ Connell said;

“Wexford Sinn Féin has decided to hold a series of public meetings across this county over the coming month to highlight the dangers of voting yes in the fiscal compact referendum on the 31st of May and to dismiss the lie that there is no alternative to this treaty. We aim to educate people to the very real alternatives that some pro treaty commentators have attempted to bury. Meetings will be held in our county towns and the larger villages in an effort to accommodate as many people as possible.”

“Many of the arguments made for voting yes to this treaty have been pathetic, suggesting that a yes vote is bad but a no vote is worst. This type of scaremongering has already muddied the waters in this debate and made our decision to call these public meetings offering viable alternatives a necessity. I have been particularly shocked by comments made by proponents of the yes side in the past few days which have been misleading, disingenuous and in some cases, blatant falsehoods.”

“To suggest that in the aftermath of a no vote, Ireland will be cast off from the rest of Europe like a social pariah, denied access to future funding and be left to default is not only entirely false but also ridiculous. Do they take us for mugs? Ireland’s membership of the EU will not be affected in any way by a no vote to this intergovernmental treaty. Such a treaty cannot overrule membership entitlements that have been set in stone by previous treaties such as Nice and Maastricht.”
“In the aftermath of a no vote we will still have the same inherent right to funding that we have now and we will still be able to access this funding from the EFSF as every member state can. We will still have the same entitlement to be helped back to the sovereign bond markets by the ECB which is afforded under that banks mandate to all member states. We will not be denied funding. We will not be left to default. The sky won’t fall in.”

“People need to be aware of the truths concerning this treaty. I urge people to attend our meetings. I appeal to them to join the campaign, to organise a public meeting in their area or to help distribute literature warning of the dangers posed by a yes vote. People are welcome to join the campaign against the austerity treaty in County Wexford by texting JOIN followed by your name and address to 086-2397192.”





Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Mythen calls on Enniscorthy to vote No to Austerity


Cllr Johnny Mythen has called on the people of the Enniscorthy district to vote no in the Fiscal Compact Referendum on the 31st of May, saying that the alternative to a no vote is austerity, no job creation and the ceding of Irish sovereignty to unelected technocrats and judges in Europe.

“When a government becomes incapable of defending the people against a permanent, invasive, undemocratic treaty, then the people must defend themselves,” Cllr Mythen said. “The only way we can do this is by voting no to the fiscal compact treaty on the 31st of May. Prominent economists have stated austerity without job creation cannot work.”

“The balanced budget rule forces each country to comply with a fixed structural deficit. If we fail to meet these figures an automatic mechanism will be triggered giving total control to the European commission and the European court of justice to inflict more austerity on an already overburdened economy, piling enormous economic pressure on ordinary people. What is even more threatening is that these twin instruments of power are unelected technocrats and Judges.”

“It is inconceivable that fellow Irish Citizens are willing to sacrifice their economic and legal sovereignty of their country gluing us forever to an Inter-Governmental treaty controlled by unscrupulous bankers and industrial corporate magnates.”

“Yiorgos Vassalos is a highly respectable researcher in the Corporate Europe observatory. He says ‘The fiscal treaty mirrors the proposals of big business lobby groups to strengthen the commission’s capacity to determine the economic policies of the E.U. member states. The fiscal compact would transfer excessive new powers to the European commission an unelected body with strong links to corporate lobbyists. National parliaments would lose control, while no democratic mechanism is foreseen at E.U. level.’ Thus the fiscal compact spells out an authoritarian form of economic governance at E.U. level.”

Return of the National Pension Reserve Fund



Cllr Anthony Kelly has commended the Fine Gael/Labour coalition for finding the long lost National Pension Reserve Fund. The Wexford Sinn Féin rep admitted that it was a pity they had relocated it only to purchase water meters for their ill-conceived water tax instead of putting the money towards a stimulus plan.

“It's amazing that our government have managed at last to lay their hands on the elusive National Pension Reserve Fund,” Cllr Kelly said. “How long have we been told that there are no investable funds left in this trust? Now, when money is needed to purchase water meters that will do nothing to aid either the Irish people or the state in the long term, the government managed to sum up the needed funds.”

“What a pity they could not have accessed these funds to invest in the Irish people as Sinn Féin has called for over the past number of years. Why was this funding not made available for the national roll out of next generation broadband? Sinn Féin called for the investment of the €2.5 billion needed for this project which could have taken Ireland to the top of the broadband league and would have increased our attractiveness for high tech jobs. The government said funding was not available for such a project but they were able to immediately find the 450 million needed to finance the purchase of water meters.”

“Last year Sinn Féin put forward a number of progressive measures based on using money from the national pension reserve fund to stimulate the Irish economy. We proposed the construction of 100 schools at a cost of €300 million and the refurbishment of 75 more at a cost of €50 million over the next 3 years. We proposed the building of 150 additional state run crèches at the cost of €335 million. These proposals were ignored by a government who would rather invest in water meters than in the future of its own people. Now we see where the priorities of this regime truly lie.”




€6 billion is heavy price to keep Germans happy


The Chairman of County Wexford Sinn Féin has described the estimated cost of Ireland changing deficit rules as outlined in the fiscal compact treaty as a heavy price to pay to keep the German government happy. Oisin O’ Connell said the figure of €6 billion being quoted by several economists was both a realistic and terrifying indication of how this treaty may impact negatively on Ireland in the years to come if ratified by referendum on the 31st of May next.

Mr O’ Connell said;

“The figure of €6 billion being suggested by some economists is not an outlandish prediction or some sort of scare tactic, but a very legitimate calculation of how much this state will be immediately penalised for accepting a new deficit rule under the terms of the fiscal compact treaty. It is now accepted that if the government manages to carry out the Troikas demand and get our government deficit down to 3% for 2015, then the switch over to a 0.5% structural deficit rule would cost the state €6 billion. That’s an additional €6 billion after years of austerity budgets.”

“We have heard government spokespeople consistently telling us that austerity ends in 2015. This treaty removes any doubt that these people could have been telling the truth. This treaty will introduce a string of measures aimed at permanently institutionalising austerity, meaning it will never end. Unfortunately this €6 billion is only the start of a new never ending debt.”

“Accepting this treaty and the permanent austerity that it seeks to attach to our constitution seems a heavy price to pay to keep elements of the German parliament happy. Since the start of the Euro crisis these Germans have reinvented themselves as the moral guardians of the ‘core’ EU nations, keen to inflict economic governance on the weaker periphery member states. They spin the myth that it was the reckless borrowing and spending of peripheral nations like Ireland that caused the crisis.”

“They rarely mention how European banks lost €200 billion speculating on the American subprime mortgage market during the 2008 Wall Street Crash, or the devastating knock on effect that these gambling losses have had on the euro currency. They have created an entirely false history of this crisis. Introducing economic governance from Germany and permanent austerity in Ireland won’t save the euro zone. In fact it will further endanger it. €6 billion is a heavy price to pay to keep the German government happy but it is not as heavy as signing up generations of Irish people to a permanent hardship treaty.”

No Water Charges Wexford group condemns government plans

The No Water Charges Wexford group have condemned the government’s plans to introduce water charges, stating that the introduction of a water tax has nothing to do with the conservation of water. Sinn Féin Councillor Anthony Kelly, who attended the meeting of the anti water charges group in Bridgetown last week, described attempts by the government to justify yet another tax on working families as “pathetic” and “deceptive”.
Cllr Kelly said;

“The government’s plan to introduce water charges has nothing to do with water conservation. If it had then the government would be investing the money they are taking out the national pension reserve fund for water metres into upgrading our antiquated water distribution network. This could create real jobs that have a positive legacy on communities and workers alike. If this was about water conservation we would be witnessing a major employment drive to fix the leaks in our water pipe system instead of the introduction of another tax.”

“Government spokespeople on this issue have been deliberately deceptive when putting across their arguments for this new tax. They are deceptive when they say that the Irish people get free water now. This is untrue. The Irish people pay for their water through the existing taxes in place. They are deceptive when they say that a water tax would reduce water consumption here. The English consume more water per head than us and they have had a water tax for the past twenty five years. They are deceptive when they say everywhere else has water charges. Sinn Féin in government in the six counties has resisted the introduction of a water tax despite huge pressures from Westminster.”

“I commend groups like No Water Charges Wexford who have been working in their communities for the past year against the introduction of a water tax. They have been organising to combat the pathetic arguments that this government has been putting forward to justify this new tax. The majority of people are now seeing through the austerity program and won’t be fooled into believing lies about water metering being about conservation.”

Monday, April 23, 2012

Wexford Sinn Féin launch Austerity Treaty Road Show

Sinn Féin launched its Austerity Treaty Road Show in County Wexford last Saturday. The Austerity Treaty Mobile Information Centre was in New Ross town in the morning, followed by a spell in Wexford town in the afternoon. Organisers say teams of activists handed out thousands of information leaflets warning of the dangers posed by the Fiscal Compact Treaty as they engaged with the public.
Cllr Anthony Kelly and Cllr Johnny Mythen joined the road show in Wexford town in the afternoon. Cllr Kelly warned that if this treaty is accepted by the Irish people it will mean more taxes like the household charge, the septic tank tax and water charges. “The EU Fiscal Compact Treaty, or the Austerity Treaty as it should be known, seeks to permanently institutionalise austerity in this state,” Cllr Kelly said, “It sets out to make the cuts and taxes that have caused such misery and stagnation legally binding and an integral part of our constitution. It sets out to tie the hands of future governments and future generations of Irish men and women, leaving them to live their whole lives under the dark clouds of permanent austerity. It fair to say if this treaty gets through, we ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Cllr Mythen said he wanted people to ask themselves a few simple questions; 1. What government would vote to give permanent control over its financial affairs to another state? 2. What kind of government would vote to sell its own peoples assets? 3. What government would tell you that austerity is working when 17 million people are out of work across the European Union? The Austerity Treaty Road Show will be out and about during the week and will be visiting Enniscorthy, Bunclody and Gorey next Saturday. If you are interested in joining our teams of committed activists in the campaign for a no vote to austerity, text JOIN followed by your name and address to 086-2397192 now.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Household Tax and Water Charges; You ain’t seen nothing yet - Kelly

The household tax and water charges will be dwarfed by what’s coming down the line if the EU Fiscal Compact Treaty is passed, according to Wexford Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Kelly. Cllr Kelly made his dire prediction as Wexford Sinn Féin announced details for an Austerity Treaty Road-show, which Cllr Kelly claims is intended to inform communities across the County of the dangers posed by this new treaty. “In recent weeks we have seen thousands march against the household tax and other austerity measures in Dublin and Galway,” Cllr Kelly said. “We’ve also learned that over 700,000 Irish people are living in poverty today. Many feel that we have hit the bottom as a people. Incredible as it may sound, if the EU Fiscal Compact Treaty is passed, I feel strongly that all the austerity we face now will be dwarfed by what lays ahead.” “Sinn Féin has campaigned for the abolishment of the household tax. We have rejected water charges and the septic tank tax. Instead we have called for the immediate introduction of a wealth tax which could generate €800 million a year by making those who can afford to pay more do so. Hitting the same people with brainless austerity measures again and again is like trying to draw blood from a stone. Austerity has failed.” “The EU Fiscal Compact Treaty, or the Austerity Treaty as it should be known, seeks to permanently institutionalise austerity in this state. It sets out to make the cuts and taxes that have caused such misery and stagnation legally binding and an integral part of our constitution. It sets out to tie the hands of future governments and future generations of Irish men and women, leaving them to live their whole lives under the dark clouds of permanent austerity. It fair to say if this treaty gets through, we ain’t seen nothing yet.” “In recent weeks I have been stunned to find that many people know very little about this treaty. To combat this Wexford Sinn Féin is launching the Austerity Treaty Road-show, which will visit the towns and villages of County Wexford in the coming weeks to inform the public of the dangers posed by this treaty. If people oppose government cut backs and unjust taxation then I would ask them to contact us now and help the campaign for a no vote to the permanent austerity treaty in County Wexford.”

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Fishguard regeneration project could be good news for Rosslare – Kelly


Cllr Anthony Kelly has welcomed news that Fishguard port in Wales is to be boosted by a major regeneration and development project. The Wexford Sinn Féin rep said that this could be great news for Rosslare Harbour if the government moves now and capitalises on this announcement. Cllr Kelly insisted that a state investment in Rosslare Harbour now could significantly enhance County Wexfords economy over the coming years.

“The announcement of a major new investment project in Fishguard port could greatly benefit the South East if the government moves quickly to capitalise,” Cllr Kelly said. “We need to see a similar announcement here about Rosslare Europort in the coming weeks to show that our local port is still very much open for business and still very much capable of competing with the busiest European ports.”

“Rosslare Europort accommodated 1.1 million passengers in 2004. In 2010 the port was seconded only by Dublin port for trade volume. This port could be the point of stimulus that the twenty thousand unemployed in our County have been crying out for. Its development would not only benefit our county, but the entire south east.”

“The planned investment of the British government in the 450-berth marina and 250 apartments in the Pembrokeshire port town shows that even in times of deep recession, governments have the power to introduce vital stimulus plans which can completely alter local communities, benefiting them and the surrounding regions. There are no dry dock facilities in Ireland capable of accommodating large ferries. Recently an operator out of Rosslare Europort commented that, with adequate investment, dry dock and container capacities could be developed there.”

“The Fianna Fail government allowed Rosslare Harbour to be run into the ground. I’m calling on the current government not to make the same mistakes as their predecessors. They must take this opportunity to invest in County Wexford and our people.”

New County Chairman of Sinn Féin: 'No' to "Permanent Austerity Treaty"

The new County Chairman of Wexford Sinn Féin has called for a no vote to the so-called "Fiscal Compact" Treaty in the upcoming referendum - (formally, the intergovernmental Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union). Oisin O’Connell, a farmer and recent economics graduate from Foulkesmills, was elected the new Chairperson of Sinn Féin in County Wexford, at a Comhairle Ceantar meeting in Enniscorthy last Tuesday night. Mr O’Connell said his first duty would be to help lead the County Wexford campaign of opposition to what he terms ‘the Permanent Austerity Treaty’.

“The Permanent Austerity Treaty is a cookbook; and your jobs, your businesses, and your livelihoods are what's on the menu” Mr O’Connell said. “This is economic cannibalism on a national scale. It formalises us as a generational debt-servicing machine. Solely to protect the financial fictions of the European monetary and banking system. To bailout the same European system for the problems it caused by a 'one-size-fits-Germany' monetary union."


"Millions for water meters, when the same money could fix the pipes that leak most of the water. Septic Tank schemes to squeeze rural dwellers who already pay for their own infrastructure. Household charges when people already pay whopping charges to build their houses. More of this on the way. Where is it going? What is it for? That giant sucking sound is the economic lifeblood being drained from this country in the form of emigration of surplus people, credit contraction, job and demand destruction. Our collective life is being being transformed into a giant toll-booth to save and serve a continental plutonomy. To quote the poem: 'Will German, French or Dutch inscribe the epitaph of Emmet, When we've sold enough of Ireland, to be but strangers in it?'"

“Recently, even leading pro-government economists like Colm McCarthy have derided the economics of this treaty. It has been well publicised that the introduction of the 0.5% structural deficit rule will cost the state an extra €6 billion. Even if the Fine Gael/Labour government reaches its target of a 3% deficit by 2015, we will still have to remove a further €6 billion from our economy at that point. That and other measures will fuel an economic implosion which this state will struggle to ever escape.”

“Sinn Féin wants people to educate themselves on this treaty. The full text is only eleven pages long and available to read free online - with explanations - at www.AusterityTreaty.EU. To inform the public of the dangers posed, Wexford Sinn Féin is launching the Austerity Treaty Road-show. In the coming weeks we will visit communities across the county campaigning for a no vote to the Permanent Austerity Treaty. If you wish to help the campaign against the Austerity Treaty in your area, text join to 086-2397192”

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Kelly condemns Labour Party’s arrogant stand against household tax protestors

Cllr Anthony Kelly has condemned what he calls the “arrogant stand” taken by the Labour Party leadership towards protestors outside their convention in Galway last Saturday. Cllr Kelly, who travelled to the protest with a Wexford Sinn Féin delegation, said that in his opinion comments made by certain Labour party leadership figures before the demonstration led to an escalation in the anger felt by some members of the crowd. Cllr Kelly also criticised the use of pepper spray by members of the Gardaí.
Cllr Kelly said;

“Comments made by Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore and other senior members of his party before last Saturdays Household Tax Protest led to frustrated protestors having to vent their fury outside the Labour Party National Convention. When Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore told protestors to have a nice day during an interview with the media he must have know that the comments would be regarded as an ill-thought and totally inappropriate jibe. It seemed to many that the Tánaiste was belittling the protestors, many of whom are among the 700,000 citizens now living in poverty in this country.”

“These comments were seen to show the Labour Party taking an arrogant stand against the five thousand protestors who turned up for a peaceful event. A couple of hundred protestors later forced their way through barricades to get to doors of the building where the convention was being held because they felt that Labour couldn’t hear their message. I wonder where they got that idea Eamon?”
“I must also criticise the knee jerk reaction of a small number of Gardaí who escalated the situation by using excessive force when dealing with young protestors. I witnessed one teenage girl being pepper sprayed. In my view the use of such force on young people was totally wrong.”

“I travelled to Galway last Saturday with a delegation from Wexford Sinn Féin, but I was pleased to see several bus loads of ordinary Wexford people up there who were connected to no political organisation. These people simply wanted to send a message to the Labour Party leadership. The Wexford group behaved in an exemplary manner, wore their purple and gold colours with pride and were a credit to our county.”
Cllr Kelly said that there was an equal mood of anger and fear among the crowd.
“I spoke to many people who were furious with the government for not backing down on the household tax,” Cllr Kelly said, “But I also spoke to many people, of all age groups, who genuinely expressed fears for the future. People are worried about what this government will do next if they are allowed to get away with the implementation of the unfair household tax.”

“Sinn Féin is calling on the Labour Party to represent the people who voted for them on the promise of political change and fairness last year by changing their stance on the household tax and on the upcoming fiscal compact treaty referendum. We believe the household charge is an unfair attempt by this government to increase its tax base. The Labour Party had campaigned for a wealth tax in the past but soon dropped this in favour of the inequitable household charge after the election. €800 million could be raised from a wealth tax which would run on the morally right basis that those who can afford to pay more should do so.”
“If passed, The Fiscal Compact Treaty will mean more stealth taxes like the household charge and the septic tank tax, more cuts to public services and more poverty. This coming Saturday Wexford Sinn Féin members will be on the streets of every town in the county campaigning for a no vote to this treaty. I am calling on people who oppose unfair taxes and cutbacks to join us and help stop this austerity treaty.”

Friday, April 13, 2012

Replace the Household Tax with a Wealth Tax – Kelly


Cllr Anthony Kelly has renewed his call on the government to scrap the household tax ahead of today’s Labour party national convention in Galway. The Wexford Sinn Féin rep is calling on Labour party senior government member, Minister Brendan Howlin, to lobby the Labour party convention to change their stance on the controversial tax. Instead, Cllr Kelly is calling on the government to implement a fair wealth tax after it emerged that over seven hundred thousand people are living in poverty in Ireland.

Cllr Kelly said;

“Wexford Sinn Féin is calling on our local Labour party government Minister Brendan Howlin and his councillor colleagues to petition the national convention of their party to change its stance on the household tax. Figures have emerged during the week showing that over seven hundred thousand people are living in poverty in this state today. It is morally wrong and at odds with everything that Minister Howlin and local labour party councillors were elected on to pursue these suffering people to pay a grossly inequitable household tax that they simply cannot afford.”

“Over seven hundred thousand homeowners have refused to pay the household charge. It is blatantly obvious from the new poverty figures that have emerged that the majority of these families cannot and will not be able to afford to pay this tax. These people have been bled dry. I am asking Minister Howlin to represent these people now and use his influence to move the Labour party away from the maniac stance that Eamon Gilmore has taken.”

“It’s a well know story that Minister Howlin was named after a great Wexford Labour party leader, Brendan Corish. In 1967, Brendan Corish addressed his national convention and asked, ‘Do we accept man’s basic dignity as the starting point of all Government policy?’ What would Brendan Corish make of his Labour party standing against the impoverished citizens of this state today?”

“We are calling on Minister Howlin to present the sensible alternative to the Labour party convention. Axe the Household tax and introduce a wealth tax. There is no doubt that there is still wealth in this state. The Capgemini Merrill Lynch World Wealth Report annually tracks the liquid assets of the worlds wealthy. They estimate that there are over 18,000 super wealthy living in Ireland today who, through the transfer of assets from property to commodities, have recovered their wealth to 2005 levels.”

“A wealth tax would generate about €800 million a year, five times the total amount that could be taken in from the household tax in its current form. Surely it is time that the Labour party remember its roots and began to protect the basic human dignity of the new Irish poor by concentrating on a policy of fairness. Those who can afford to should pay more.”

New Ross Sinn Féin welcomes refurbishment of Quay Front

New Ross Sinn Féin has welcomed the announcement that the Quay Front in New Ross town is to be refurbished. In a statement, New Ross Sinn Féin Representative Gerard Barron said "This is something Sinn Féin has been calling on to happen for many years, and was contained in the Sinn Féin plan for New Ross Town, launched ten years ago."

"It is something that we have felt to be a necessity for the Quay Front in New Ross, and was a major part of our strategy outlined in our plan for New Ross town. Everyone is disappointed that the Dunbrody festival had to be cancelled for this year, but the refurbishment of the Quay Front will only benefit New Ross in the long term. Obviously it should have been done when public finances were more widely available, but at least now, this plan of work may create much needed employment for the people of the town."

"We also call on initiatives to enable businesses and shops on the Quay Front to start up and develop, such as reductions in rates for start up periods. A bit of foreward thinking, could develop into enticing the passing traffic to stop off in New Ross, thus benefitting the whole of the town centre."

"New Ross Sinn Féin ask New Ross Town Council to restudy the New Ross Sinn Féin plan launched in 2002 now and also to liase with Wexford County Council and the NRA to look into the feasibility of implementing other features outlined in the plan, the most glaringly obvious being for a new bridge crossing to be built at the Marshmeadows site, rather then wasting hundreds of millions on motorways taking traffic across the River Barrow at Pink Rock over a massive superstructure suspension bridge, which we believe would end up as a horrific white elephant”

Thursday, April 12, 2012

We must never allow the stock exchange bell to ring over our land – Mythen


Cllr Johnny Mythen has called on the people of Enniscorthy to vote no in the upcoming European Fiscal Compact Treaty. Speaking at the annual Easter Commemoration in St Marys Cemetery, Cllr Mythen said that the people had to rediscover their spirit of self determination if we are to preserve our economic liberty, our state assets and the future for our children.

Cllr Mythen said;

“Every Easter we gather to honour and pay our respect to all those Irish men and women in every generation who dedicated their lives to the cause of Irish freedom and the creation of an Irish Republic. However today we have a very different republic. We have a republic of partition. We have republic of in- equality. We have a republic that fosters and looks after the greedy and the wealthiest of this nation, disregarding and alienating the ordinary citizens whom they are walking on and driving into the ground, by their mismanagement of our economy and by introducing callous austerity measures that are devastating and causing low income families to crumble.”

“The recent government figures released from the CSO shows the spending power of low income families decreased by 26% while families on higher income increased by 8%. This is the highest gap between rich and poor since records began. The deprivation rate, in plain words the bread line, stands at 22.5%. That’s nearly one quarter of all households in Ireland without adequate economic or social necessities. This can be attributed to the leadership of a party that shamefully claims to be republican, and now are substituted by the coalition of the willing, Fine Gael and Labour.”

“On the 31st of may we will be asked to ratify another austerity treaty. If we are serious about preserving our economic liberty, if we are serious about preserving our state assets, if we are serious about protecting the future of our children, then in all conscience we all must reject this treaty. We must as a people, as republicans, as a nation, re-awaken the spirit of self determination that beats in the heart of every Irish person. We must reclaim our country from these toxic bankers, bondholders and government yes-men.”

“We must not allow, we must never allow, the stock exchange bell to ring over our land, our people, our nation.”

Kelly continues to push for new sign at O’ Hanrahan Station


According to this week’s Wexford People newspaper, new signage is to be prioritised for Wexford's O' Hanrahan Station during 2012.

In a letter to Wexford Borough Council, councillors were informed that Iarnrod Eireann is currently in the process of updating station signage, which will be rolled out across the network over time as funding allows. Chief Executive Richard Fearn informed the council that he has asked their Building Maintenance Manager to ensure the new signage is prioritised for Wexford O' Hanrahan Station during this year and that the new signage also incorporates the O'hanrahan name.

Wexford Sinn Féin Councillor Anthony Kelly has been pushing for the placing of a new sign displaying the O’ Hanrahan name for a number of years, since the issue was brought to his attention by local residents.

Michael O’ Hanrahan was a republican leader from New Ross who was executed for his role in the 1916 Rising. He was second in command of Dublin's 2nd battalion under Commandant Thomas MacDonagh. He fought at Jacob's Biscuit Factory. O'Hanrahan was executed by firing squad on May 4, 1916.

Cllr. Anthony Kelly urged the council to keep an eye on this letter. 'We were told it would happen a year ago and nothing happened,' said the Sinn Fein councillor.

No mandate for household tax to pay back bondholders – Kelly


Cllr Anthony Kelly has criticised the government for refusing to back down on its ill fated household tax despite the refusal of over seven hundred thousand law abiding homeowners to pay. The Wexford Sinn Féin rep said that the people know that the household tax is not about raising revenue to fund local services, but rather about finding money to continue the bailout of unsecured bondholders and toxic banking assets.

“The people of Ireland have sent a very clear and concise message rejecting the household tax to this government,” Cllr Kelly said, “The Fine Gael and Labour coalition no longer have the realistic mandate to force this unfair tax on the electorate. By ignoring the will of the majority, they are only making things worse for themselves in the long term.”

“No one will be fooled into believing that the household tax was about raising revenue to fund local government. What happened to the funding for local government? It has been transferred into the bailout fund. It is being used to pay off unsecured bondholders and cover the promissory note, which is still very much on the table despite what the government says. Just last Wednesday (11th), we saw AIB hand over €1.5 billion of Irish taxpayer’s money to unsecured bondholders. This is where the household tax is going. It was never about funding local services.”

Cllr Kelly also gave his reaction to recent slurs by members of Fine Gael, including Deputy Liam Twomey, implying that Sinn Féin supports a similar property tax in the north of our island.

“A property tax does exist in the six counties. It is something that the Northern Assembly inherited from direct British Rule, and unfortunately, due to tax varying powers and fiscal levers being controlled by the British Exchequer, the assembly does not yet have the power to abolish a charge that Sinn Féin does not agree with. It is purposely misleading to compare that charge to the one being implemented by Fine Gael and Labour, and a clear attempt to muddy the waters in this debate.”

“Deputy Twomey should know that the North receives a block grant under the Barnett formula from London and then raises additional revenue through regional and district rates. This is because of partition, something that Sinn Féin has campaigned against for nearly a century. I would welcome Deputy Twomey and the Irish government to join our call to end the partition of our island and grant fiscal independence to the six counties.”

“It should also be recognised that northern rates actually pay for good public services, such as healthcare, emergency services, roads, water and sewerage. It should also be recognised that, despite a €4 billion cut by Westminster last year to the block grant, the Northern Assembly put public services and jobs first. Over the past few years, Sinn Féin in the six counties has delivered investment of more than £1 billion in improvements to water infrastructure and £492 million to develop 53 major capital school projects. Sinn Féin invested in the citizens, something that Deputy Twomeys party seems incapable of doing."

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Cllr Johnny Mythen Easter Monday Address 2012 - Enniscorthy

A cairde na laochra agus a cairde go leir failte romhat go dti an comoradh “eiri amach na casca 1916”

On behalf of the republican fraternity of County Wexford we would like to welcome you all to the 96th anniversary of the 1916 Sinn Féin Easter rising. We send greetings and best wishes to those republicans who are sick or in hospital. We also remember with pride and sorrow all those who have passed away recently. We also extend our solidarity to the Palestinian people; we join with them in their legitimate quest for a free and just Palestinian nation.
Every Easter we gather to honour and pay our respect to all those Irish men and women in every generation who dedicated their lives to the cause of Irish freedom and the creation of an Irish Republic. The tyranny of distance and time will not allow us to forget the sacrifices these brave men and women gave willingly for their country.

However today we have a very different republic.
We have a republic of partition.
We have republic of in- equality.
We have a republic that fosters and looks after, to a disgusting degree, the greedy and the wealthiest of this nation, disregarding and alienating the ordinary citizens whom they are walking on and driving into the ground, by their mismanagement of our economy, by the unmanly way they are excepting the troika dictat without even putting up a single solitary argument, and by introducing callous austerity measures that are devastating and causing low income families to crumble.
The recent government figures released from the CSO shows the spending power of low income families decreased by 26% while families on higher income increased by 8%. This is the highest gap between rich and poor since records began. The deprivation rate, in plain words the bread line, stands at 22.5%. That’s nearly one quarter of all households in Ireland without adequate economic or social necessities.


This can be attributed to the leadership of a party that shamefully claims to be republican, and now are substituted by the coalition of the willing, Fine Gael and Labour.
On the 31st of may we will be asked to ratify another austerity treaty. If we are serious about preserving our economic liberty, if we are serious about preserving our state assets, if we are serious about protecting the future of our children, then in all conscience we all must reject this treaty. We must as a people, as republicans, as a nation, re-awaken the spirit of self determination that beats in the heart of every Irish person. The words self determination runs through the history of Ireland from the united Irishmen, to the Good Friday Agreement, a span of over 200years. We must reclaim our country from these toxic bankers, bondholders and government yes-men.

We must not allow, we must never allow, the stock exchange bell to ring over our land, our people, our nation.
Photos by Gavin Doyle Photography

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Ballymore Commemoration marks beginning of Easter Week in County Wexford

A commemoration in Ballymore graveyard near Killinick this evening marked the beginning of County Wexford Sinn Féins Easter Remembrance events. A good crowd gathered at the ancient graveyard to honour the memory of Volunteer Joseph Whitty, who died on hunger strike in the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare on the 2nd of August, 1923.
Mike Phelen, the Chairman of the local Joe Whitty Sinn Féin Cumann, spoke of the need to always remember the sacrifices made by men like Joseph Whitty. Mike quoted the great Belfast Republican martyr Tom Williams to finish.
“Carry on, no matter what odds are against you; Carry on, no matter what the enemy call you; Carry on no matter what torments are inflicted on you. The road to freedom is paved with suffering, hardship and torture; Carry on my gallant comrades, until that certain day".
Cllr Anthony Kelly and Ann Hogan laid wreaths on behalf of local Sinn Féin, while other wreaths were laid by Mick O’ Leary and family members. The revamped County Wexford Colour Party led the march in and out of the graveyard.
Further commemorations will be held as follows;
Wexford town (Easter Sunday) Assemble in Crescent Quay Car Park at 1.30pm. March around the town followed by commemoration in Crosstown graveyard. Cllr Anthony Kelly and Senator David Cullinane will be the main speakers. Function afterwards in Mooneys on the Quay with music from Na Buachailli.
Murrintown (Easter Monday) 12 noon. Main speaker is Cllr Tomas Sharkey
Enniscorthy (Easter Monday) Assemble on Rafter Bridge at 2.30pm for parade to St Marys.

Kelly rejects IFAs claims that yes vote is good for rural Ireland


Cllr Anthony Kelly has said he is extremely disappointed with the decision of the Executive Council of the Irish Farmers Association to call on their 90,000 members to vote yes in the upcoming fiscal compact referendum. The Sinn Féin councillor said he rejected the IFAs leadership’s claims that a yes vote would be in the best interests of the rural economy. Cllr Kelly also said that figures clearly show that it is the EU that has benefitted more from Irelands membership, not the other way around.

“I’m extremely disappointed in the IFA’s decision to campaign for a yes vote in the upcoming fiscal compact referendum,” Cllr Kelly said, “I don’t see how they can tell their 90,000 members to vote yes to a treaty that will institutionalise austerity in this nation and draw us into a devastating poverty cycle that might take decades to escape.” “

“I recognise that Ireland’s farmers have traditionally supported the Europe Union and the Common Agriculture Policy, but it has to be pointed out to them that a no vote in the coming referendum will not impact on the CAP or our membership to the EU. This treaty is not about our EU membership, it’s about strong Euro nations like Germany seeking to impose financial and political influence over periphery nations like Ireland.”

“The IFA will point out the benefits that Ireland has received from EU membership. Sinn Féin recognises that Ireland did benefit from being part of the European community and we accept that our place is in Europe, but we will not support a treaty that aims to introduce permanent austerity on the people of Ireland.”

“Supporters of this treaty will say that Ireland received €72 billion from the EU since 1973. They won’t say that Ireland contributed €31 billion of this ourselves and they also won’t mention how we have lost €184 billion through the loss of Irish fisheries assets to the EU. In total, that means that Ireland’s net loss from being a member state of the EU is €143 billion. That is the proof that it is the European Union that has benefitted from Irelands membership to the union, not the other way around.”

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Annual Easter Commemorations

Wexford Sinn Féin will be holding their annual Easter commemoration in Wexford town next Sunday. The annual parade will depart Old Dunnes Car Park on Crescent Quay at 1.30pm and follow a route around the town.

Cars will then be provided to ferry people out to the main commemoration in Crosstown graveyard. Cllr Anthony Kelly and Senator David Cullinane will be the main speakers.
Commemorations will be held in Ballymore graveyard on Easter Saturday at 7.30pm and Murrintown graveyard on Easter Monday at noon. A large commemoration will also be held in Enniscorthy on Easter Monday at 2.30pm to remember the last garrison to surrender during the 1916 rising. All are welcome to attend.

Hundreds of Wexford people march on capital

Over sixty members of County Wexford Sinn Féin attended the National Rally against the Household Tax in Dublin last Saturday. Led by Enniscorthy Councillor Johnny Mythen, the Sinn Féin contingent was among a large turnout of people from across County Wexford who marched on the Fine Gael Ard Fheis with a message of defiance – We’re not paying the inequitable household tax.
Ferns based fire-fighter Dominic Gaughan, known by many who have attended recent anti household tax protests in County Wexford as the man with the flag, was among those who addressed the crowd of well over five thousand. Mr Gaughan, pointing his tricolour at the National Event Centre which housed the Fine Gael Ard Fheis, said that people needed to stick together and reject government austerity.
Among those who travelled to Dublin was a large group of young Wexford republicans who produced their own colourful posters which captured the attention and mood of the crowd. One portrayed local Fine Gael TDs Paul Kehoe and Liam Twomey as Dick Dastardly and Muttley from Wacky Races, while another depicted Minister Alan Shatter as a surfer uttering ‘Get a life dudes’ after the Minister had said earlier that day that protestors against austerity should get a life.
After the march Cllr Johnny Mythen reacted angrily to Fine Gaels attempts to ignore the protest, one of the largest seen in our nation in recent years.
“Fine Gael tried to ignore us,” Cllr Mythen said, “They actually pulled down the blinds in the building to block off their view of the thousands of ordinary citizens who chanted out, out, out to Enda and his austerity policies. They pulled the blinds on us but the Irish people will pull the plug on them.”