Uncategorized

World records will not be the only things broken at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. Promises for a lasting legacy – affordable housing, decent jobs, increased sports participation, etc – are being broken, too. The greatest sporting show on earth has been dragged down by crass commercialisation, and become a test-bed for increased state repression. socialistparty.net reports on the neo-liberal Games.

This week may see a rare occurrence in the European Parliament - the defeat of a key item in the big business agenda pushed by European Commission. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is set to be voted on by the full plenary of the European Parliament today, despite some last minute chicanery by the European People's Party to try to delay the vote.

Independent Newspapers attempt to manufacture an artificial controversy over Socialist Party and some other Left TDs’ travel allowance being used to attend anti House Tax meetings around the country is a transparent attempt to smear those who are engaged in a major fight against destructive austerity policies in general and the Household Tax in particular.

Now that the Fiscal Treaty referendum is out of the way, the government is preparing to attack the Household Tax nonpayment movement by using the power of the state.

Cork Socialist Party & Socialist Youth help to organise protest against Youth Defence

As far as I can remember it was always within me to question my reality. I wouldn’t go ‘with it’ if I found ‘it’ to be wrong or unjust. When I was a teen I would channel that attitude towards anti-social behaviour and sometimes towards the law, something I may have picked up from my Dad who often organised protests against abusive Gardai in Ballyfermot. But in my teens it was more just for self-fulfilment.

The non payment by Mick Wallace's of €1.4 million VAT due on sales of apartments is disgraceful. When speaking on Morning Ireland after the story broke, his comments that the €2.1 million due to Revenue (including interest and penalties), would not be paid, itself indicated the gulf in his views on what is acceptable on these issues and those of ordinary working class people throughout the country and in his own Wexford constituency.

A propaganda campaign is being waged by the government to disguise the level of non-registration for the Household Tax.

So after four days campaigning in Greece, the elections are over and I'm headed to Brussels, where a vital vote on ACTA will take place at the International Trade Committee. I watched the election results with some members of Xekinima, the Socialist Party's sister organisation in Greece, before going to the Synaspismos (the biggest organisation in Syriza) offices where big crowds were gathered.