Labour MEPs are "speaking out of both sides of their mouth" on Austerity Treaty

Labour Party MEPs who opposed austerity measures in the EU parliament have been challenged to stand by their position and campaign against the upcoming Austerity Treaty by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald TD.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy McDonald said:

“Just a few short months ago Labour MEPs voted against the bulk of the so called EU ‘Six-Pack’ modifications to the Stability and Growth Pact, modifications that have gone on to inform much of the Austerity Treaty, on the basis that measures were ‘economically misguided’.”

Labour's three MEPs were highly critical of the 'Six-Pack' modifications with Ireland South Labour MEP Phil Prendergast saying that an “austerity-only approach is a recipe for the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer”. Ireland East Labour MEP Nessa Childers stated that “to focus only on the side of fiscal austerity will depress demand further and destroy job creation” while Dublin Labour MEP Pronsias de Rossa said that “a legaslative package will reinforce the EU austerity programme driving us into recession”. MEP de Rossa went further, saying that the measures would “...kill growth, destroy jobs and derail economic recovery.”

Speaking at an Oireachtas sub-committee on the Treaty, Mary Lou McDonald TD said:

“It is deeply disappointing to hear the very same Labour MEPs speak today of their support of the Austerity Treaty despite having voting against similar measures in the European parliament just a few months ago.

“This afternoon’s sub-committee meeting offered Nessa Childers and Phil Prendergast the opportunity to stand by their views on austerity and hold their Government colleagues to account. Instead they chose to speak out of both sides of their mouths, voting against austerity in Europe whilst backing a yes vote for the Austerity Treaty here at home.”