Month: November 2012
Budget 2013 – Together we can defeat austerity
December's budget will see an unleashing of new assaults on public services and living conditions for working class people, writes Paul Murphy MEP. The government and the Labour Party in particular, will declare that unfortunately, there was no other choice. This is a lie.
Savita’s death shows women need more than X
The outrage over the death of Savita Halappanavar has forced the government to seriously consider legislating for abortion for the first time in Irish history – albeit on a very restricted basis.
How abortion rights were won in the US
Below is an article written by the sister section of the Socialist Party in the US, Socialist Alternative. A tremendous struggle in the US resulted in the historic Roe vs. Wade ruling in 1973 that legalised abortion. In the light of the restricting of abortion rights in a whole number of US states in recent years, as well as the current growing mood and movement for abortion rights in Ireland, the lessons from this struggle are really relevant, as well it being a timely moment to ask how the right to choose can be won permanently for women.
Letter to newspaper editors re Jack O’Connor comments
Dear Editor, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor’s attack on the angry workers and pensioners who were demanding action, including strike action, to fight the ongoing assault on their livelihood and living standards during ICTU President Eugene McGlone’s speech at last Saturday’s pre budget protest and his attempt to claim political orchestration is a transparent ruse to shift attention away from the inaction of trade union leaders in response to the austerity agenda.
ULA – Not measuring up to political challenges
With every new turn of the crisis comes an opportunity to win the affiliation of growing numbers of people. However, for the United Left Alliance (ULA), every new opportunity also brings political challenges.
Mobilise the unions in a struggle against austerity
Jack O’Connor SIPTU president spoke at a Dublin Council of Trade Unions press conference to promote the 24 November anti-austerity demonstration. In doing so Jack O’Connor, who is also a leading member of the Labour Party, attempted the art of doublespeak.
Irish Embassy protests take place around the world
On Wednesday 14 November, at short notice over 2,000 people gathered at the Dáil to mourn and protest the death of Savita Halappanavar. With calls of Never Again people demanded changes to Ireland's backward abortion laws. At this protest Socialist Party Cllr. Ruth Coppinger announced Paul Murphy MEP's call for an International day of Action for Legal Abortion in Ireland on Wednesday 21 November.
Israeli aggression against the people of Gaza must end immediately & unconditionally
Speaking after the European Parliament debate on Gaza where a statement was made on behalf of High Representative of the EU, Catherine Ashton, Socialist Party / United Left Alliance MEP Paul Murphy who participated in the 2011 Flotilla in order to break the siege of Gaza commented: