Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I support the moving of the writ for the Dublin West by-election and while regretting the unacceptable events that led to it, with a sense of humanity and compassion we should extend deep sympathy to the Nulty family who have suffered enormous loss due to the recent sudden and shocking death of Mr. Paddy Nulty.

The people of Dublin West are in a position to deal a massive blow to the destructive austerity agenda of Fine Gael and the Labour Party. We will hear much Government spin about recovery. There is a recovery only for the very rich and big corporate profits. For ordinary people, there is a cost of living crisis with unsustainable mortgages, mortgage arrears and exorbitant rack rents, which increase inexorably and are plunging unprecedented numbers of families into homelessness. Working people, pensioners and the unemployed are on a treadmill while austerity taxes devastate their incomes and their wages are under attack. The water tax on top of the property tax and the rest is a tipping point. People can take no more.

The people of Dublin West can strike a powerful blow to all this, especially to the water tax, by savaging Fine Gael and annihilating the Labour Party vote because that party has particularly disappointed with its betrayals. Councillor Ruth Coppinger is the candidate for the Stop the Water Tax - Socialist Party with the enthusiastic endorsement of the Anti-Austerity Alliance, a new force of men and women running 40 candidates in the local elections. The people of Dublin West and Ireland should make all the elections on 23 May a crushing referendum against the water tax and against the cost of living squeeze by voting for outstanding fighters, including Councillor Ruth Coppinger in Dublin West, Paul Murphy MEP in the Dublin European Parliament election, the Anti-Austerity Alliance candidates around the country and other genuine organisations and individuals.

Councillor Coppinger has been fighting for the interests of the people of Dublin West for the past 20 years while Fianna Fáil and other candidates now posturing as an members of the Opposition were stoking the property bubble and the philosophy that led to the speculation and profiteering that resulted in a huge cost to society and enormous suffering for so many families. We will go forward from these elections to build a powerful campaign of people power against the water tax and other austerity taxes and in favour of a democratic and socialist alternative for our people.

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