CYPRIOT BANKS BURN DEPOSITORS, WHILE IRISH GOVERNMENT ARE DOING THE SAME TO CREDIT UNIONS.

Enniscorthy Sinn Féin Cllr Johnny Mythen has criticised the governments support for burning ordinary citizens savings in Cyprus while claiming that all credit union savings here are safe forever.  Cllr Mythen said that such claims are simply incorrect.

"Kieran Brennan C.E.O. of the Irish League of Credit Unions claims that the Irish Governments guarantee that they will never burn deposits is incorrect. Sixteen Credit unions are already directly at a loss of €15 Million because of the Governments liquidation of I.B.R.C.   That’s the deposits of ordinary people wiped out with the stroke of a pen.  Effectively it will also mean no dividends at Christmas time will be paid out for years to thousands of Credit union members."

"Compare this to the blanket guarantee of billions to unsecured bond holders in Anglo Irish Bank and you quickly get the picture. Ordinary folk don’t matter."  

 "The sixteen Credit unions invested between €1 Million and €2 Million in special Anglo Irish credit union bonds respectively.  These bonds guaranteed the capital plus a 12% return.  When "Anglo’s" deposits were transferred to I.B.R.C. they refused to include the credit union deposit bonds.  Effectively burning ordinary credit union members’ money to the grand sum of €15 Million."

"Minister Coveney’s statement in the Dail that this Government will not interfere with the sanctity of deposits is totally incorrect.  This must be breaching the terms of the European bail out programme.  Again just to emphasize the inconsistency and the total subservience and hypocrisy of the Irish Government in backing the plan to burn ordinary people’s money in Cyprus, while doing the same thing to ordinary Credit Union members in their own Country is reprehensible."

SIPTU 'Croke Park best deal' claim is on very shaky ground - Mythen

Cllr Johnny Mythen has described SIPTUs claim that accepting the Croke Park 2 deal is the best strategy available as putting them on very shaking ground.  The Sinn Féin rep has called on SIPTU and similar unions to break off their relationship with the Labour party and recapture their original mandate of defending the rights of workers.

Cllr Mythen said;

"The statements that were made today on behalf of the executive of SIPTU recommending acceptance of the Croke Park 2 proposals do not stack up.  Their claims along with Jack O Connor's that it was the best deal available and best strategy while leaving workers facing wage cuts without agreements are standing on very shaky ground.  How come if it is the best deal available the Prison officers association could secure for their members all existing premium payments for weekend and evening work?"

"The strategy to stick with the agreement in the hope that what you lose will be regained further down the road is a poor strategy indeed.  Every worker knows once any condition is lost, in order to gain it back something else will have to be sacrificed in its place.  On the last point of wage cuts without agreement, a wage cut to workers is a wage cut whether it comes in an agreement or is forced upon them."

"The alliance campaign had an actuarial consultant Joseph O Byrne & Comp. carry out a detailed analysis which stated that pay cuts up to 11. 4% will apply under the new proposals.  Whether the language is coming from Mr O' Connor or Mr Howlin, it is the language of agreed austerity resulting in the downgrading of workers conditions and wages."

"It's about time that some unions in this country begin to realise their true power and begin to defend the people that pay their executives very generous salaries, and stop this cosy relationship with the Labour Party whom have bought in (lock stock and barrel) to austerity policies that are crippling our domestic economy."

 

Mythen: Road works allocation is pittance compared to motor tax intake

An Enniscorthy Sinn Féin Councillor has described Minister Leo Varadkar's announcement that €42 million is to be reallocated to improve rural roads as pittance compared to over €1 billion collected by the exchequer every single year directly from motor related revenue.  Cllr Johnny Mythen, while welcoming that something is finally being done about our crumbling road infrastructure, admitted that this was too little, too late.

Cllr Mythen said;

"Minister Varadkar is quite correct when he says that 'It is obvious to anyone who lives or drives through rural areas that some road surfaces are in need of repair'.  I would go a step further and say that most road surfaces are in need of repair and that is because people like Minister Varadkar have neglected this issue for so long and are now trying to pass it off as something that has just popped up.  Dangerous road conditions have been a reality for a majority of County Wexford drivers for many years now."

"While I welcome the reallocation of €42 million to allow for vital repairs to our road infrastructure, it does appear to be a case of too little, too late.  In last years budget road tax was increased.  It may come as a surprise to many who pay this tax that the revenue generated from it does not automatically go to maintaining our road network, but instead is pumped back into central government to pay excessive wages and cover the cost of St Patrick's Day junkets for our government TDs."

"Every year our government collects over €1 billion in motor related revenue.  If you add in the 7.5% hike on motor tax in the last budget plus the vat intake on petrol and diesel, then the €42 million divided between 29 County Councils is grossly inadequate.  There are 2.5 million registered motorists in Ireland paying through the nose for a service that seems to be strangely under-funded."

"Many secondary roads across this county are literally crumbing away.  These potholed infested by ways are a danger to drivers and a cause of considerable financial loss.  It is unreasonable to force drivers to pay high road tax and then leave them to the mercy of these road conditions.  It's time that all revenue generated from road tax be reinvested back into the maintenance and construction of our roads."

Farming must be safeguarded to prevent further economic collapse - O' Connell

The Chairperson of County Wexford Sinn Féin has said that he has huge concerns for the future of Irish farming and the economic benefits it provides for this state if proposed reforms to the Common Agriculture Policy go ahead.  Oisin O' Connell said that a common sense approach needed to be deployed to ensure that agricultural families could be kept on the land, allowed to make an adequate living and that the knock on effects would continue to benefit the economy.

Mr O' Connell said;

"Wexford farming has been in decline for many years due to the neglect of successive Irish governments.  The last agricultural census showed that the average income for farms in this county was €17,771 per annum.  To put this in comparison with other sectors, the average industrial wage in this state is currently €35,486.88 per annum.  The  idea that farmers are somehow privileged is completely false."

"Farming is a vital part of the Irish economy.  The IFA estimates that farmers and farm families spend €8 billion per year in our economy.  It’s thought that 300,000 jobs are supported by the agriculture, food and related industries.  For every €100 of agriculture output there is a further €73 of output to the wider economy.  71% of raw materials used by our agri and fishing industries are sourced in the domestic market."

"The state has to ensure that the agricultural sector is safeguarded in this state."

"There are proposals that reforming the Single Farm Payment so that a per hectare rate of €400 for the first 20 hectares would be paid out.  Currently over 80% of farmers receive an average payment of just over €5,000.  Just 1.62% receive more than €50,000 but that accounts for over 10% of the total payments.  Such a reform would benefit the 80% of lower paid farmers but should be tweaked to include extra payments on land above 20 hectares and including Pillar II payments and a new scheme to encourage young entrants."

"CAP reform must be scrutinised carefully by our government because we as a nation cannot afford to sign off on something which could damage an industry that provides so much to our economy."

Kelly commends Duncormick Post Office campaign

Cllr Anthony Kelly has commended the local campaign to reopen the post office in Duncormick village after receiving word from An Post confirming that a final decision on the future of the rural institution is to be made in the coming weeks.  The Sinn Féin rep praised the efforts of locals who recently organised a public meeting and letter writing campaign and said that these actions had forced the issue into the public light.

Cllr Kelly said;

"I have been in regular contact with An Post since the post office in Duncormick was closed without warning last May.  This closure has never been adequately explained to the local population who have had to endure the harsh effects of losing what is a vital lifeline for a rural area.  Whether it is the pensioners who have had to travel an extra eight miles to collect their money or the local businesses who have seen custom dwindle, the knock on consequences of this closure is having a clearly detrimental effect on Duncormick and the surrounding area."

"I attended a large public meeting organised by the local community to demand the reopening of their post office recently.  Shortly afterwards I was contacted by An Post who have informed me that they are taking submissions from interested parties in a consultation process that seems to be geared up towards the permanent closure of the Duncormick post office."

"I would urge the local community who have shown such spirit lately in collecting petitions and organising a letter writing campaign to An Post to stick together now and prevent the permanent closure of this important rural institution.  It is the efforts of the local campaign that has caused An Post to begin this consultation process, and it is within the power of the local people to force the reopening of Duncormick Post Office.  Local Sinn Féin will support them every step of the way."

Family home tax should be repealed - O' Súilleabháin

A local Sinn Féin rep has said that his party would repeal the property tax if in government.  Speaking at a public meeting on the tax in Gorey last Monday night, Fionntán O' Súilleabháin said that Sinn Féin would rightly repeal the unpopular bill and had legislation to such affect ready to bring before the Dail in the Summer. 

Mr O' Súilleabháin said;

"This week letters are being issued to homes across this county demanding payment of yet another austerity tax.  Once again under pressure families are to be taxed on their homes.  The sending out of this letter will put added pressure and stress on families that are already at breaking point."

"180,000 mortgage holders are in distress in this state at the moment.  1.8 million people are left with €100 or less at the end of the month after essential bills are paid.  How is it conceivable for our government to introduce another tax on the family home during a crisis like this?"

"Sinn Féin will bring forward a bill which would repeal the Family Home Tax later this year.  It is essential that all elected politicians who truly claim to be representatives of the Irish people reflect on what hardship these demanding letters and the property tax will have on ordinary families.  Its time they put these families first and support our repeal bill and the campaign to have the property tax resigned to the history books where it belongs."

"There are real alternatives to the property tax.  Sinn Féin has proposed a wealth tax on assets over €1million.  This would bring in at least as much as this family home tax but would be targeted at those who can afford it. It would be fair and progressive and would not force more family homes into mortgage distress as the property tax would."