Protest against bank debt and austerity – Saturday 9 February

The average EU citizen has paid €192 to cover the cost of their bust banks . . . But our bank bail-out has cost every Irish citizen almost €9,000 – nearly 50 times the EU average

By the Irish Congress of Trade Unions

IT IS NOT OUR DEBT but it was the cost of ‘saving’ the Irish banks, whose collapse brought down the whole economy.

They were part of a corrupt culture among senior Eurozone bankers that saw the biggest bonuses awarded to the most reckless lenders.

We make up less than 1% of Europe’s population but are expected to repay debt of €64billion – far bigger than the bank debt of major powers like Germany, Britain and Spain.

We comprise a tiny fraction of the European economy but have pumped more into our banks than any other EU state.

So far, the average EU citizen has paid €192 to cover the cost of their bust banks . . . But our bank bail-out has cost every Irish citizen almost €9,000 – nearly 50 times the EU average.

And we are expected to pay more!

Our bank bail-out prevented the collapse of the European banking system and probably saved the euro.

The whole EU benefited but we are expected to foot the €64billion bill alone.

The bank debt burden is unsustainable and unjust. It will cripple us for generations to come.

No matter what sacrifices we make, or how ‘competitive’ we become, there is no hope of recovery until this burden is lifted.

We must act now and send a clear message across Europe. Join the protests on Saturday 9 February 9 (assemble 1:30pm).

Assembly Points:-

DUBLIN: Cook Street (near Civic Offices, Wood Quay)

CORK: SIPTU offices, Connolly, Hall Lapps Quay

GALWAY: Cathedral Car Park

LIMERICK: Mechanics Institute, Harstonge Street

WATERFORD: The Glen (in front  of the Forum)

SLIGO: Sligo County Council Offices, Riverside

1913 to 2013: A Century of Workers in Struggle