Trade unions are hoping up to 100,000 people will take part in demonstrations around the country on Saturday week in support of a deal to lift the country’s debt burden.
The rallies in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo and Waterford on February 9th are being organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. However, congress has invited other community and voluntary groups to participate.
Congress general secretary David Begg said the action was targeted at European authorities rather than the Government. He said congress wanted to see the implementation of the agreement reached by European leaders last June on the separation of bank debt from sovereign debt. Congress also wants a promissory note deal.
Mr Begg said unless the enormous burden of debt was lifted there was no chance the country would get through the crisis.
“This country faces the most dire consequences unless this burden is lifted and future generations will pay a heavy price unless a significant deal is done, at European level.
“It is extraordinary to think that a country with a workforce of 1.8 million has been saddled with a debt of €64 billion and that Ireland has the highest bailout bill in the euro zone, larger even than Germany .”
Mr Begg said previous large-scale rallies organised by congress had attracted 80,000-100,000 participants.
Meanwhile Jack O’Connor, president of Siptu, said the Government must “hang tough” in its negotiations on the €3.1 billion promissory note instalment. He was speaking at Glasnevin Cemetery yesterday to mark the 66th anniversary of the death of James Larkin.
