Category: Special Needs cuts
In a statement and in Leaders questions this morning, Richard Boyd Barrett TD raised the increase in Invalidity pension refusals since the present government took office.
Deputy Boyd Barrett accused the Minister of engaging in the systematic refusals of disabled people with chronic illnesses their rightful entitlement to Invalidity Pensions.
Deputy Boyd Barrett also said the dramatic increase in refusals has led to an equally dramatic increase in the number of appeals and unacceptably long waiting times for those appeals and claimed the appeals office is totally over-run.
Minister Burton once again sought to blame Fianna Fáil but it is clear from information received in answer to a parliamentary question that the dramatic increase in refusals has occurred since Labour and Fine Gael have been in government.
Richard Boyd Barrett TD, People Before Profit/United Left Alliance challenges Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD (Fine Gael) on the governments broken promises, for example, with respect to disability and child benefit during Leaders Questions on Tuesday 11th December 2012.
This evening saw an angry protest of up to 1,000 people march to the Dail against the Budget Cuts. The budget sees major cuts including; a cut in Respite Care Grant, child benefit, electricity allowance, telephone allowance, a tripling the cost of prescriptions on the medical card, property tax, increases in Motor Tax among other measures. Speakers at the Dail include Mick O’Reilly (DCTU), Kieran Allen (Socialsit Workers Party), Joe Higgins TD (United Left Alliance/SP).
Up to 20,000 people took part in an anti austerity protest in Dublin today. The protest was organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and community organisations and the Campaign Against the House hold and Water Charges. the crowds marched from Parnell Square, up O’Connell St and D’olier St and finished outside the GPO.
Speaking at the protest Richard Boyd Barrett TD said: “Today’s demonstration must only be the start of an escalating campaign of resistance against the plans of the government and the Troika to heap further disastrous austerity onto the backs of ordinary people in this country. One-off demonstrations are not enough to stop the juggernaut of austerity. We must signal today our determination to step-up protests across the country and begin to prepare for a nation-wide general strike in the spring, if the government and the Troika do not not stop with these cruel and senseless policies of austerity.”
“It is abundantly clear, that half of the population if not more, simply cannot take anymore. The fabric of our society and our economy is being ripped apart. This madness has to stop. We must cease immediately the insane policy of prioritising the interests of banks and markets over the needs of ordinary citizens. We must demand that jobs and the protection of the vulnerable in our society become the first priority, if we are to have any chance of averting a long-term economic depression. This can only be done through a coordinated mass movement of workers and citizens making it impossible for the government to implement further austerity.”
“Today’s protest must also send out a clear call to unite the different sectors of Irish society that are under attack to unite into one big national movement against the policies of austerity and back bail-outs. The government are trying to pick groups off, one by one, and keep the opposition to their policies fragmented. In response, we need to call for unity and solidarity between workers, pensioners, students, the unemployed, the disabled and every other sector that is under the hammer.”
“We will be insisting from the platform and at the mass assembly that will directly follow the march that a decision is taken today for further action. A grand old duke of york march up the hill and down the hill simply will not do. Today’s demonstration must set out the next step in the campaign to stop this austerity madness in its tracks.”
Further protests are planned for Budget Day. Check back here for more details.
Government cannot be allowed to rip society apart and destroy economy with further austerity
In a statement in advance of today’s national pre-budget demonstration against cuts and austerity, Richard Boyd Barrett TD for People Before Profit/ULA called for today’s demonstration to be the first in a series of escalating protests against further austerity.
Today’s protest, assembling at 1pm in Parnell Sq, Dublin, organised by the Campaign Against Household and Water Charges, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and the Community Sector and supported by the ICTU, SIPTU and other trade unions “must be the beginning of a sustained national campaign of resistance against the failed policy of austerity and bank bail-outs,” Deputy Boyd Barrett said.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said: “Today’s demonstration must only be the start of an escalating campaign of resistance against the plans of the government and the Troika to heap further disastrous austerity onto the backs of ordinary people in this country. One-off demonstrations are not enough to stop the juggernaut of austerity. We must signal today our determination to step-up protests across the country and begin to prepare for a nation-wide general strike in the spring, if the government and the Troika do not not stop with these cruel and senseless policies of austerity.”
“It is abundantly clear, that half of the population if not more, simply cannot take anymore. The fabric of our society and our economy is being ripped apart. This madness has to stop. We must cease immediately the insane policy of prioritising the interests of banks and markets over the needs of ordinary citizens. We must demand that jobs and the protection of the vulnerable in our society become the first priority, if we are to have any chance of averting a long-term economic depression. This can only be done through a coordinated mass movement of workers and citizens making it impossible for the government to implement further austerity.”
“Today’s protest must also send out a clear call to unite the different sectors of Irish society that are under attack to unite into one big national movement against the policies of austerity and back bail-outs. The government are trying to pick groups off, one by one, and keep the opposition to their policies fragmented. In response, we need to call for unity and solidarity between workers, pensioners, students, the unemployed, the disabled and every other sector that is under the hammer.”
“We will be insisting from the platform and at the mass assembly that will directly follow the march that a decision is taken today for further action. A grand old duke of york march up the hill and down the hill simply will not do. Today’s demonstration must set out the next step in the campaign to stop this austerity madness in its tracks.”
During Leaders Questions, on Wednesday 21st November, Richard Boyd Barrett challenged Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Government’s record on human rights with respect to the case of Savita Halappanavar, the right to choice, the rights of special needs children and the disabled, whose services are being cut and the rights of people of Gaza currently under brutal attack by israel. All of this in the context of Ireland’s recent election to the UN Human Rights Council.
