Sinn Féin force democratic vote on IMF bailout

Sinn Féin Dáil Leader Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin has said that the announcement that the Government has now agreed to put the IMF/EU deal to a Dáil vote, is a direct result of Sinn Féin’s threat of legal action on the issue.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said:
“Yesterday solicitors acting on my behalf wrote directly to the Chief State Solicitor, including by fax and email, demanding that the Memorandum of Understanding relating to the EU/IMF sell-out deal be laid before the Dáil so that it can be made subject to resolution in accordance with Article 29(5) of the Constitution.

“This legal letter called on the Government to announce on or before close of Dáil business on Tuesday the 14th December 2010 that on its completion this agreement will be submitted for a vote by the Dáil and that in the absence of such an announcement, that I would take such further action to compel the laying of the resolution before the Dáil.

“Today my solicitors again communicated with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and also corresponded with the Attorney General Mr Paul Gallagher on this issue.

“It is clear that today’s announcement that Government will now put the EU/IMF bailout deal to a Dáil vote, is a direct result of Sinn Féin’s threat of legal action.

“Once again, as was the case with the Donegal South West by-election, it has taken legal initiatives by Sinn Féin to force this totally discredited Government to live up to its democratic responsibilities.

“Sinn Féin will be voting against this sell-out deal with the IMF, a deal that will burden our children and grand-children with mountains of debt incurred by speculators who gambled and lost. We call on all members of the Dáil to vote against this deal. We also call on all parties to make a commitment that if they are in Government they will scrap this sell-out.”