Ní Chuilín joins European day of action

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Chuilín said the cuts being proposed by the British government will have a hugely detrimental impact on workers, the disadvantaged and those in poverty particularly in North Belfast.

The Republican activist was speaking as she took part in a rally in Belfast opposed to the cuts.
“The poorest will be hit ten times harder than the wealthy. It will be the public services they rely on, in health and education and social services and transport, that will be hit hardest,” said Ní Chuilín.

“Lone parents, the elderly and the sick will suffer the most. In addition, the patterns of poverty remain the same as ever. For as long as records exist, concentrations of inequality and deprivation have been ingrained in areas like North Belfast. This is systemic and structured discrimination.
“So, political leaders and parties in the north have to stand up for peoples rights and in opposition to cuts. Sinn Féin is focused and determined to do this.

“When Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness met the British Chancellor, Martin McGuinness told him of our opposition to cuts and of the need to protect frontline services for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
“Sinn Féin believes that there is an alternative to the slash and burn strategy of the British government.

Sinn Féin is committed to:
· Building efficient and effective public services.

· Rebalancing the economy by growing the private sector, particularly small and medium sized businesses. In line with many governments in Europe and in the USA we need a strategic approach which invests to save jobs, tackles waste and inefficiencies and promotes investment in infrastructure.

· There is a need to redress the inequalities which undermine the political progress that we have made to date. Sinn Féin is committed to the full implementation of the Section 75 Equality measures and in particular how this is applied in regard to public expenditure.

· The Executive requires the necessary fiscal tools to tackle the economic crisis. These must include tax varying and borrowing powers.

· Significant savings can be made and more efficient use made of existing resources if we end the economically harmful duplication of services as a result of partition. On an island this small it does not make sense to have two competing economic systems. So, Sinn Féin will seeking to work in alliance with the trade unions and community and voluntary sector to campaign against cuts and to defend community and public services, especially in the most deprived areas.

“So I'm here today showing the leadership that our community expects and deserves and I’m standing shoulder-to-shoulder with workers across the European Union in their opposition to this reactionary agenda of cuts. The poor will not foot the bill for the greedy or the rich.”