Child Benefit Cuts

A group of protestors staged a symbolic protest in Limerick this morning, occupying King John's Castle and dropping ag giant banner saying "Limerick Says No to IMF Dictatorship" in response to the ongoing IMF visit to Ireland and last nights downgrading of Irish bonds to Junk status. They are calling on people to come out on Saturday and join  a larger public rally outside Penney's at 2pm which has been organsied by various groups and individuals. Today's protest was organised by Socialist Youth to  "send a clear message to our new Kings in the IMF and international banks: the people of Limerick will not stand for this new rule. People can't take the cuts in SNAs, health, education and welfare that they are demanding."

The government’s newest job creation gimmick revealed in the Finance Bill just published, really does point up its policy bankruptcy in dealing with the crisis of mass unemployment in the State. The huge tax break offered to senior executives earning up to half a million Euro per annum, who work for transnational corporations and would be prepared to move here for one year, is supposed to attract some of the ‘brightest and best’ to come and do something to create jobs in this economy.