Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Across the UK today, more than 2 million workers are on strike, including teachers; rail workers; higher-education workers; people who work on border checks in the North; and University and College Union, UCU, members. This follows a series of strikes by health workers. Some of the key issues driving this huge revolt of working people are issues they have in common with many workers in Ireland, namely pay increases that are, in effect, pay cuts because of the spiralling cost of living.

When one considers the recent report by Oxfam, about which there was a briefing this week, which identified the fact that if the absolutely extraordinary growth in the wealth of the very richest people, the millionaires and billionaires in this country, was modestly taxed it could raise €8 billion in extra revenue, it could be used towards paying decent wages to workers, addressing the housing crisis and public services. Oxfam is arguing for this internationally. When one looks at the strikes and the cost-of-living crisis and how it is impacting on nurses, teachers and healthcare workers in Ireland, as well as in the UK and across Europe, will the Government look at taxing the wealth, which has seen extraordinary growth, the very richest people are enjoying and using it to address the cost-of-living crisis that the vast numbers of workers struggling to pay the bills and rent are facing?

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