The anti-people budget - CPI

Speech by Eugene McCartan,
General secretary, CPI
10 December 2009

Comrades and friends,

The speakers before me have dealt in some detail with the contents of the budget and the effect the various provisions will have on working people. Yes, Brian Cowen may have taken a 20 per cent cut in wages, along with other members of the Government; but his salary is still six times the average industrial wage.

Ultimately this is all mere window-dressing, designed to placate the anger of the people. Make no mistake: what is happening here in Ireland, and also internationally, is a massive and unprecedented transfer of wealth from working people to the economic and corporate elite of our society. The past and present budgets and current economic policies have been design to facilitate a massive transfer of wealth from the poor and workers upwards to that elite.

The economic and social policy of this state is to maintain the status quo, and in this it is directed and controlled by the European Union and the European Central Bank. This Government will take no decisions without first clearing them with Brussels.

To read the rest of the speech log on to the below:

http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/c-budget.html