Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty launches scathing attack on Government at Bodenstown
SINN Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has delivered the main oration at this year’s Wolfe Tone Commemoration in Bodenstown Graveyard on Sunday.
And during the course of the speech Deputy Doherty launched a scathing attack on the record of the current Fine Gael and Labour Government.
He said: “After more than two years in office it is painfully clear that The Fine Gael/Labour government has utterly failed the Irish people.
“They have failed to tackle record emigration, failed to tackle escalating unemployment, failed to tackle the banks, failed to tackle the scandal of mortgage distress, and failed to tackle the problems facing small businesses.
“Michael Noonan has failed to negotiate a debt write-down on the Promissory Note.
“James Reilly has failed our health services. Cronyism and shambolic management are the hallmarks of his disastrous tenure. Among other scandals in health we have watched as people with disabilities are targeted through the removal of the mobility allowance.
“Ruairi Quinn has failed on Education, presiding over a shambles on third levels grants, stripping resources from our schools and making cuts in special needs assistance
“Alan Shatter — the most arrogant Justice Minister since Michael McDowell — has failed spectacularly, closing down rural Garda stations and losing the confidence of both Gardai and the general public
“Brendan Howlin has completely failed to tackle excessive pay in the public sector and instead has targeted frontline workers on low and average pay.
“Enda Kenny has failed to deliver his much vaunted ‘democratic revolution’,
“And Eamon Gilmore has abjectly failed the cause of labour and all of those who had placed their hope in the Labour Party.
“In the Ireland of 2013, the message of Tone is more relevant than ever. Now more than ever, this country needs republican politics.”
