Press Release: Dáil Vote will not give IMF/ECB deal political legitimacy – 1% Network

“If Brian Lenihan and Brian Cowen really do believe that this deal is in the national interest, they should put it to a referendum of the people,” - Brian Leeson.

Press Release: Dáil Vote will not give IMF/ECB deal political legitimacy – 1% Network

“If Brian Lenihan and Brian Cowen really do believe that this deal is in the national interest, they should put it to a referendum of the people,” Brian Leeson.

The 1% Network has sharply criticised the government for claiming that a vote by Dáil Éireann to approve the IMF-ECB deal would give it ‘political legitimacy’.

“Politicians from every political party know that this deal does not have the support or approval of the vast majority of Irish people,” said Brian Leeson, spokesperson for the 1% Network. “Just because a group of politicians vote for it in Leinster House won’t give the deal any degree of so-called ‘political legitimacy’”.

“If the politicians had any real interest in finding out the people’s view of this deal they’d put it to a referendum. They’re not going to do that because they’re afraid to do so,” said Gregor Kerr of the 1% Network. “When the people in Iceland were given an opportunity to vote in a debt repayment referendum in March of this year, 93% of them voted against the government’s plans to bailout the banks and only 1.8% voted in favour. If a referendum were held in Ireland, there is no doubt that the result would be very similar here.”

“The 1% Network have consistently made the point that the fact that 1% of the population own 34% of the wealth gives that 1% access to and control of political power in the state,” Brian Leeson continued. “We have stated that the wealthy investors – both Irish and foreign – who gambled in the Irish property boom should have to take their losses – just as they took their profits. It is wrong both politically and morally that their losses should be transferred onto the shoulders of ordinary Irish people. This deal with the IMF and the ECB is only in the interests of the ultra wealthy.”

“What will happen in the Dáil on Wednesday is a total sham,” went on Gregor Kerr. “Indeed the whole of Irish political life currently is a sham. A Dáil approval of this so-called bailout will not give it any legitimacy. And when the general election is held in February or March the people will not have any real choice. The option of rejecting this deal and forcing the loan sharks and bondholders to take their losses will not be put before the people.”

“If Brian Lenihan and Brian Cowen really do believe that this deal is in the national interest, they should put it to a referendum of the people,” Brian Leeson concluded. “They won’t do so because they know that in reality it would only have the support of the wealthy 1%, and that the vast majority of the Irish population would reject it outright.”

Statement Ends

Note to Editor: The 1% network is a coalition of socialist groups which has come together to oppose the cutback agenda of the government and to promote a socialist alternative to the current socio-economic system. Organisations within the coalition include éirígí, Irish Socialist Network, Seomra Spraoi and the Workers Solidarity Movement. The name of the coalition was chosen to highlight the fact that just 1% of the population control in excess of 34% of the wealth of the state.

For more information, contact Gregor Kerr 086 1501151 or Brian Leeson 086 8071010 or log onto www.onepercentnetwork.org