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Speaking at a press conference convened this morning in response to the Budget, Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said: "The draconian proposals for the attempted implementation of the new Property Tax have the stamp of a Troika dictat and verge on a financial dictatorship attacking low and middle income households. The proposal is a grotesque abuse of Revenue powers to try cow home owners but there will be massive anger, discontent and active resistance.

The large number of people who marched behind the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) banners at the 24 November national anti-austerity demonstration in Dublin augurs well for a serious battle against the property tax in the New Year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On 21 November, up to 30 MEPs from four political groups and many different countries held a protest in front of the European Parliament to demand abortion legislation in Ireland.

This afternoon Joe Higgins TD on behalf of the Socialist Party submitted an amendment to the Sinn Féin private members' motion on the death of Savita Halappanavar.