Video of Dublin Lisbon Treaty Debate

Following an appeal signed by 16 MEPs from the Left Group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL), this week (21 to 26 June) has been designated as a "Week of Protest & Solidarity" across Europe - in opposition to the attacks on working people across Europe and in solidarity with the struggle in Greece.

Austerity, the buzzword for the times we live in, as the rich and powerful unleash their recovery plan through this Fine Gael/Labour coalition. 

The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) has condemned as “pure scaremongering” claims by the Minister for Justice that fines for non-payment of the household tax could be taken from people’s pay.

Should a government Minister be allowed to make a far reaching statement that sharply contradicts the thrust of government policy and not be immediately challenged as to the practical implications? If the media afforded acres of coverage to such a statement, should it not then demand that the Minister spell out what concrete action she/he proposed to take if the statement was to mean anything more than empty posturing?