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

national | anti-capitalism | press release

Wednesday December 15, 2010 08:29

by 1percentnetwork - 1percentnetwork

“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

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Comments (6 of 6)

"First Things First"

by W. Finnerty.

Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:18

In my view, the voters of the Republic of Ireland now 1) need to calmly and quietly identify all of the TDs who voted in favour of the €85 billion EU-IMF bailout package yesterday in the Dáil Eireann, for the purpose of paying off (at tax-payers expense) what is possibly just a very, very tiny fraction of the self-inflicted mountain of gambling debts the bankers have created for themselves in dozens (possibly hundreds?) of jurisdictions all around the world.

2) We need to accurately identify all those (if any) who abstained -- for no good reason -- in yesterday's Dáil vote.

3) We then need to do everything that is peacefully and legally possible to try to ensure that all those who voted in favour of the €85 billion EU-IMF bailout package yesterday, or who abstained from voting for no good reason, are not re-elected as TDs in the coming general election in the Republic of Ireland, which it seems will be taking place sometime within the coming three months or so.

Is there -- these days -- any easy, accurate, and controversial-free way of finding out who exactly voted which way (or abstained from voting) yesterday in Dáil Eireann, regarding the €85 billion EU-IMF bailout?

and...

by angry voter

Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:55

and to add to the list above...
All those TDs who voted against the package because they know it was going to be agreed anyway. Allowed them a handy out and they'll come knocking on our doors pretending to be on our side.

IMF Supporters

by AxetoRoot

Thu Dec 16, 2010 14:56

Link to the debate on the IMF deal in Leinster House yesterday - list of those who voted for and against is listed at the end of the page

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2010/12/15/00010.asp

"By their fruit shall ye know them"

by Whistler

Thu Dec 16, 2010 17:40

TDs who voted "Tá" ("Yes") to the IMF/ECB bailout package on Wednesday December 15th 2010:

Ahern, Bertie. Ahern, Dermot.
Ahern, Michael. Ahern, Noel.
Andrews, Barry. Andrews, Chris.
Ardagh, Seán. Aylward, Bobby.
Behan, Joe. Blaney, Niall.
Brady, Áine. Brady, Cyprian.
Brady, Johnny. Browne, John.
Byrne, Thomas. Calleary, Dara.
Carey, Pat. Collins, Niall.
Conlon, Margaret. Connick, Seán.
Coughlan, Mary. Cowen, Brian.
Cregan, John. Cuffe, Ciarán.
Curran, John. Dempsey, Noel.
Devins, Jimmy. Dooley, Timmy.
Fahey, Frank. Finneran, Michael.
Fitzpatrick, Michael. Fleming, Seán.
Flynn, Beverley. Gogarty, Paul.
Gormley, John. Hanafin, Mary.
Harney, Mary. Haughey, Seán.
Healy-Rae, Jackie. Hoctor, Máire.
Kelleher, Billy. Kelly, Peter.
Kenneally, Brendan. Kennedy, Michael.
Killeen, Tony. Kitt, Michael P.
Kitt, Tom. Lenihan, Brian.
Lenihan, Conor. Lowry, Michael.
McEllistrim, Thomas. McGrath, Michael.
McGuinness, John. Mansergh, Martin.
Martin, Micheál. Moloney, John.
Moynihan, Michael. Mulcahy, Michael.
Nolan, M.J. Ó Cuív, Éamon.
Ó Fearghaíl, Seán. O’Brien, Darragh.
O’Connor, Charlie. O’Donoghue, John.
O’Flynn, Noel. O’Hanlon, Rory.
O’Keeffe, Batt. O’Keeffe, Edward.
O’Rourke, Mary. O’Sullivan, Christy.
Power, Peter. Power, Seán.
Roche, Dick. Ryan, Eamon.
Sargent, Trevor. Scanlon, Eamon.
Smith, Brendan. Treacy, Noel.
Wallace, Mary. White, Mary Alexandra.
Woods, Michael.

The above list has been copied from government web site at http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2010/12/15/00010.asp

Abstentions

by Wiliam - Of Orange

Thu Dec 16, 2010 18:15

Who abstained or did not vote?

Question?

by Des - None

Thu Dec 16, 2010 20:13

What about the former minister for war, he is not mentioned, did he abstain?

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

Comments (6 of 6)