Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The reality is that the dynamic in the overall political situation has changed utterly since the rejection of Croke Park II because what we had was the Minister of State's Government threatening public sector workers to cut off their own heads or it would take the pay from them. They stood their ground and called the Government's bluff and in much the same way as it is trying to intimidate home owners by saying, "Give us all the details of your property or we will come and take the property tax from you", those people will stand their ground also.

The reason people rejected Croke Park II in such large numbers is that contrary to propaganda the overwhelming majority of public sector workers are relatively low paid. Already, they have experienced cuts in their pay of over 20% in recent years and their financial commitments were based on previous salaries. They simply cannot give any more. The idea being put forward that the unions can somehow go into talks and negotiate an alternative solution is lunacy and the sooner the Government and, more importantly, the trade union leaders realise that, the better because there is no more left to give. The Government can dress it up and say it is only €300,000 or €1 billion and that it will get it a different way. There is no other way to get it.

The real lesson to be learned from this vote is that the opposition has been clearly demonstrated. The mask is down. The Government is not as powerful as it was shown to be but that opposition should link up with the growing opposition throughout the country to the home tax and the other movement against austerity. That will teach the Minister's Government a lesson because in this centenary year of 1913, trade unionists and public sector workers have learned that the great no longer look so great.

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