€3.8 BILLION OF AUSTERITY REPRESENTS “ECONOMICS OF THE MADHOUSE” AND WILL FURTHER CRIPPLE IRELAND’S ECONOMY
POLITICAL THEATRICS IN EUROPE CAN’T MASK SLOWING GROWTH AND EUROPEAN SLIDE TOWARDS RECESSION
In a statement, Richard Boyd Barrett TD for the People Before Profit Alliance has responded to reports on the content of the government’s medium term economic review, published today, which is proposing a further 3.8 billion of austerity cuts and taxes in the forthcoming budget.
Deputy Boyd Barrett roundly condemned the government’s plans for a further €3.8 billion in austerity cuts describing them as the “economics of the madhouse,” which he said would “further cripple Ireland’s already devastated economy and inflict immense suffering on working people, the poor and the vulnerable.”
Deputy Boyd Barrett also condemned the demonisation and bullying of Greece by the EU and much of the media, saying it was “theatrics and dishonest spin designed to deflect away from the fundamental fact of the Eurozone crisis, which is that EU-IMF austerity is crushing growth in Europe and propelling the continents economy towards recession.”
Deputy Boyd Barrett said: “The government’s plan in their pre-budget economic review is quite simply the economics of the madhouse. Sucking a further 3.8 billion out of an already devastated economy can have no other effect than to cripple economic growth and inflict terrible suffering on working people, the poor and the vulnerable.
Growth forecasts for the Eurozone are being slashed by all serious analysts and with them growth prospects for Ireland. The latest down-grading of Ireland’s growth prospects came today from the Irish Exporters Association who have cut their forecasts for Irish exports because of the slow-down in the European economy. The government’s delusionary hope of an export-led recovery is rapidly going up in smoke.
Against the background of the European economy grinding to a halt, the bullying and demonisation of the Greek people by EU leaders and much of the media is an absolute disgrace. It is a cynical attempt to deflect away from the fundamental fact that EU-IMF austerity policies are fast propelling the European economy towards a continent-wide recession. The Greek people who have been out on the streets deserve praise for having the intelligence and courage to oppose this economic madness.
We have fools and knaves running the EU and they are propelling us down a path of economic and social disaster. The pretence that the EU is a democratic project has been thoroughly exposed in the last few days. The EU is nothing but a façade to mask the dictatorship of the financial markets and corporate elites.
If we are not be entirely crushed by this crazed and brutal austerity, we need get out on the streets in the weeks before this budget and make it clear to the government and the EU-IMF bullies that we are not willing to take any more of this madness.”
For more info:
Richard Boyd Barrett 086-7814520 / 087 2886646
