DONEGAL TD Pearse Doherty has said the Troika “is fixated on austerity for austerity’s sake” and the government was simply “ticking the Troika’s austerity boxes”.
Speaking after leading a Sinn Fein delegation to meet the Troika Deputy Doherty said: “Recently we have heard EU Commission President Barroso say that austerity has reached its limits. Before that former IMF man in Ireland Ashoka Mody said that ‘reliance on austerity is counterproductive’.
“In Sinn Fein’s view austerity has failed and was never going to work. The Troika today admitted it was disappointed with Ireland’s economic growth under the programme but that it was not changing course.
“Like the government they are determined to waste more years on austerity. They confirmed the government is intent on pursuing this same failed policy including by cutting the pay of lower and middle-income public servants.
“Sinn Féin vigorously contested the statement from the Troika that the programme is working and put it to them that while the programme is delivering for the banks and markets it is dramatically failing ordinary people. We need to move to people- and growth-friendly policies and to drop the counterproductive austerity agenda to which this government is wedded. There must be an easing of austerity, starting with the scrapping of the family home tax and water charges.
“Sinn Fein also raised the issue of health cuts and the need for a fairer approach to public service talks with the Troika. We left them in no doubt that ordinary people are hurting and have no more to give.
“It is clear the government must change course and use the space Minister Noonan referred to create growth and jobs and not simply to tick the Troika’s austerity boxes.”
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