March 6, 2010

Our public services under attack as never before - Ó Caoláin

Public services are under attack in this State as never before.
They are under attack because Fianna Fáil-led Governments by their bad policies and bad management over the past 12 years have bankrupted the economy.

And how are they trying to fix it?

Not by calling to account the bankers and developers and property speculators and the so-called regulators who caused it. Not by making the wealthy pay their fair share.

No, the Fianna Fáil solution is to slash the wages of low paid workers, slash social welfare and slash public services.

Public services are being undermined and public servants are being demonised.

Who are these public servants?

They are the nurses who care for people in hospital and in the community. They are the teachers who teach our children. They are the firefighters and gardai who protect our communities. They are the workers who keep our water flowing and our streets clean.

We say to Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan and Mary Harney and John Gormley – hands off our public services!

In the past year as recession deepened and as the Fianna Fáil/Green Government cut savagely into our public services, Sinn Féin representatives in the Oireachtas, on local authorities and in our communities have been battling side by side in solidarity with all those who are determined to maintain vital public services.

We have highlighted the heartlessness of a Government that could take €8.50 per week out of the pockets of people who are caring for elderly or disabled relatives in their homes. We have opposed the plans of a Government that wants to fatally damage our health services by taking a further 1,100 acute hospital beds out of the system in 2010. We have stood against a Government that trumpets its commitment to education but that condemns children to learn in pre-fabs and takes support away from children with special needs.

But we have done more. We have presented our real, viable alternatives, based on fairness, efficiency and the delivery of better services to the people. And those services will be delivered better also on an all-Ireland basis. We must end the duplication of Departments and agencies and systems on this small island and integrate our public services.
Leanfaimíd ar aghaidh sa bhfeachtas ar son na seirbhísí poiblí.

Ní neart go cur le chéile.