Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Is the Taoiseach aware that 80,000 public sector workers are taking strike action in Northern Ireland tomorrow? It is part of a 3 million strong strike in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales in response to serious attacks on living standards and the policy of the British Government. Again, like in this country, it is the working class that must pay for the crisis. Is the Taoiseach aware of the concern of workers in the North or has he had an opportunity to meet with public sector workers or unions about swingeing cuts in public expenditure which threaten dire consequences? The Northern Ireland Assembly is tasked with carrying through these cuts, the effects of which will be the downgrading or closure of accident and emergency departments, the closure of schools and the loss of thousands of jobs in the public sector.

Does the Taoiseach agree that in Northern Ireland there is a higher than usual dependence on the public sector for historical reasons? The public sector is a very important employer and also supports many jobs in the private sector. Cuts such as these are very serious for the lives of working people and the working class in Northern Ireland. Will the Taoiseach make it part of his business in regard to the North to urge the British Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly not to proceed with such cuts because of the damaging effect on workers and society in the North? There will be a further intensification of the unemployment problem which, traditionally, has been quite serious in the North and has serious social and political repercussions, apart from the repercussions on the lives of the unemployed and those who are dependent on the public sector.

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