Bridgetown says No to Austerity Treaty

A public meeting to highlight arguments and alternatives to the fiscal compact treaty was held in Bridgetowns AOH hall this evening. Local Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Kelly, Oisin O’ Connell and Kevin McCorry from the Peoples Movement laid out the reasons they believe the Irish people should reject this treaty in the referendum on the 31at of May.

Cllr Anthony Kelly said that the first week of full campaigning had seen the yes side issuing bully boy threats and scare tactics in an attempt to frighten people into supporting a bad Treaty.

“Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour are arguing that a no vote will result in the state being denied access to emergency funding in the future,” Cllr Kelly said. “Sinn Féin has shown that this argument is false. Nobody should be in any doubt; if Ireland needs further emergency funding the European Union will provide that finance.”

Cllr Kelly insisted it was the government who needs to explain where they would get the money to fund the state in the event of a yes vote to this treaty.

“According to the Department of Finance the structural deficit in 2015 will be 3.5%. The gap between this figure and the new 0.5% rule is approximately €6 billion. The Government has a responsibility to explain to people where they will get this money from. Is it their intention to further increase the tax burden on low and middle income families? Is it their intention to cut even more funding from front line education, health and community services?”

A calendar of public meetings on the Austerity Treaty in County Wexford has now been released and is as follows:

Monday 7th May: Ballycullane
Tintern GAA Complex, 8pm
Speakers; Cllr Anthony Kelly, Kevin McCorry & Oisin O’ Connell

Thursday 10th May: Ferns
TBA
Speakers; Fionntan O’ Suillebhan, others TBA

Tuesday 15th May: Gorey
Loc Garman Arms, 8pm
Speakers; Fionntan O’ Suillebhan, others TBA

Thursday 17th May: The Ballagh
Ballagh Community Centre
Speakers; TBA

Tuesday 22th May: New Ross
The Parish Pump, Rosbercon
Speakers: TBA

Thursday 24th May: Enniscorthy
Venue: TBA
Speakers; TBA

Monday 28th May: Wexford town
TBA
Speakers; TBA

Organisers say more meetings are to be added to this schedule and have reminded people that they can join the campaign and organise a meeting in their own area by simply texting JOIN to 086-2397192.