Statement by the Communist Party of Ireland
15 October 2012
Workers need to be careful not to fall into the trap being laid by this bankrupt government. The internal troika of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and, in an active support role, Fianna Fáil are attempting to gain political cover for what is being planned in the forthcoming budget.
By using the statements coming from the external troika of the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank as sanction for what is already in train, they will make renewed attacks on working people in the budget.
They are refining the age-old tactic of divide and rule—dividing those who use or depend on public services from those who work in the public services. If they wished to deal with higher-paid public servants they could introduce a more progressive tax regime that would also draw more resources from the wealthy in our society. But this is something they will not do.
The carefully choreographed messages from the Tánaiste, Éamon Gilmore, reconfirming that this government is firmly committed to paying the odious debt, and Brendan Howlin’s constant refrain that we need to tackle top earners within the public services, need to be seen as part of the Labour Party’s solid commitment to making working people pay for the crisis and the odious debt.
Under the pretext of tackling the higher-paid public servants they can once again cut services and benefits to the poor and working people.
