A LARGE turnout at
yesterday's protest in Buncrana "sends a clear
message" that Inishowen and Donegal says 'no' to
further cuts and austerity, said local TD, Deputy
Pádraig MacLochlainn.
He said: "The deep concern in Inishowen and Donegal
about further cuts is palpable. Already huge numbers
of our workforce are unemployed and thousands of
mostly young people have emigrated across the
county. Many chairs will be empty at the dinner
tables of Inishowen and Donegal homes this
Christmas.
"Here in Inishowen, we now hear talk of Garda
stations closing in Malin and Culdaff, beds being
lost at Buncrana Nursing Unit and Carndonagh
Community Hospital, and the vital NowDoc service
being downgraded. We also have seen funding removed
from our schools, student grants slashed and more
education costs pushed onto hard pressed families,"
he added. The Buncrana Dáil deputy said the "madness
has to stop".
"How much damage will be done to our community,
public and physical infrastructure before this
Government realise that the well has long since
dried up.
"You cannot grow an economy and create jobs and new
taxes while imposing crushing cuts and austerity
year, after year, after year. This approach has
failed dramatically yet our Government will stand up
and tell the troika of the EU/ ECB/ and IMF that it
has to stop. In particular, we have to stand up to
the ECB."
Deputy MacLochlainn added: "Future generations will
ask us what we did about it. (Saturday's) protest
shows that the people of Inishowen fought back and
said 'no more'." |
