Opinion: Fine Gael/Labour Coalition – The IMF’s ‘loyal opposition’

CRISIS IN THE ECONOMY | THE IMF’S ‘LOYAL OPPOSITION’

Labour’s and Fine Gael’s ‘Opposition by Fooling’

BY

AENGUS

Ó SNODAIGH TD

JAMES CONNOLLY once used the phrase “Ruling by Fooling”. He would certainly have plenty to justify that in the midst of the comic opera farce that is the hallmark of the dying days of this Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government.

He would also perhaps be tempted to coin a new phrase: ‘Opposition by Fooling’.

Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore

Fine Gael and indeed the Labour Party are attempting to fool the people into believing that they are outraged by the current administration’s plans to savage the Irish people in the interests of their banker and speculator friends. In fact, they have accepted the timetable for reducing the deficit and have also accepted the need for massive cutbacks which will be borne by the ordinary people of this state.

They may argue about whether the cuts should be of the order of €6billion or merely €4.5billion.

They may express outrage at the International Monetary Fund having being handed over control of the country’s finances.

They may castigate the Government which has been responsible for that.

But when the smoke clears they have themselves signed up to the ‘Consensus for Cuts’.

They have also expressed their willingness to act as the executive arm of the IMF and whatever theatre is being acted out between them is merely to do with which party will have the biggest numbers in the coalition that will administer those cuts when the present sorry bunch shuffle off the stage.

In relation to the issue of taxation or any other aspect of domestic economic policy, Sinn Féin will not accept being dictated to by the IMF or the EU, and that includes not being forced to increase the rate of Corporation Tax.

Indeed, we are the only party that is consistent on that as we are the only party in Leinster House that is not willing to implement anything the IMF tells us.

Sinn Féin also the only party in Leinster House which opposed the Lisbon Treaty which surrendered further control over this state to Brussels, although in fairness that appears almost irrelevant in the context of the current abject surrender to the IMF.

So is Fine Gael telling us that it is acceptable for the IMF and the EU to tell us to sack thousands of workers or sell off state assets but not to raise Corporation Tax? Clearly they are.

Does the Labour Party agree with them on that and if not how will they resolve that if and when they form the next government? Or will they use the excuse that they have been placed in a straitjacket and have no choice but to do beastly things to the people who elected them?

Sinn Féin opposes all diktats from the IMF and Brussels, whether that has to do with raising Corporation Tax or destroying our public services.

Labour and Fine Gael have expressed their willingness to act as the executive arm of the IMF and whatever theatre is being acted out between them is merely to do with which party will have the biggest numbers in the coalition that will administer those cuts when the present sorry bunch shuffle off the stage