Tara campaign to give away money outside Government offices

Plush new Department of Finance offices - Merrion Row, Dublin

Breaking News - Ireland: 25/08/2008 - 12:22:46

Tara campaigners are to give money away to members of the public at noon tomorrow, outside the new Department of Finance offices on Baggot Street.

The gesture is being done to protest the Government's adherence to the National Development Plan, and the M3 motorway, despite the economic downturn.

Dressed as 'fat-cats', demonstrators will give passing members of the building trade €1 each. However, employees in the medical or educational fields will be given only 20 cents. Homeless people will not be given anything.

This is to symbolise what campaigners claim is an imbalance in Government priorities, where support for builders is higher than any other area of Irish society.

The action is being taken in response to Bertie Ahern's opinion piece in yesterday's Sunday Independent, calling for Taoiseach Cowen to ignore the financial crisis and proceed with the multi-billion investment in the NDP, and in particular the roads programme and Transport 21.

The takings from the TaraWatch benefit concert tonight at the Arts Club in Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin will fund the giveaway.

Campaign spokesman Vincent Salafia said: "The economic justification for the NDP and the M3 has evaporated, with the economic downturn, and it is economic suicide to carry on as if nothing has happened.

"Fianna Fáil, mindlessly propped up by the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats, have clearly made a lot promises to their supporters in the building trade that they feel cannot be undone, no matter what logic it defies or what damage it does to the economy as a whole.

"We are demanding truly sustainable development, not the corrupted version we are being fed at the moment, that is harming rather than improving society as a whole."

COPY OF TARAWATCH RELEASE AND DETAILS OF EVENTS BELOW

PRESS RELEASE

TARAWATCH.org

25 August 2008

'Proceeds from Tonight's Tara Benefit to be Given Away Outside Department of
Finance Tomorrow'

The takings from the TaraWatch benefit concert taking place tonight at the
United Arts Club will be given away to the public at noon tomorrow, outside the
plush new Department of Finance offices on Baggot Street, as a form of protest.

The gesture is being done to protest the Government's stubborn adherence to the
National Development Plan, and the M3 motorway, despite the drastic economic
downturn.

Dressed as 'fat-cats', demonstrators will give passing members of the building
trade one euro each. However, employees in the medical or educational fields
will be given only 20 cents. Homeless people will not be given anything. This
will symbolise the imbalance Government priorities, where support for builders
continues to be radically higher than any other area of Irish society.

The action is being taken in response to Bertie Ahern's opinion piece in
yesterday's Sunday Independent, calling for Taoiseach Cowen to ignore the
financial crisis and proceed with the multi-billion investment in the NDP, and
in particular the roads programme and Transport 21.

It is predicted that Taoiseach Cowen and his Cabinet will slash cuts in
education and medical services, bring back university fees and raise taxes,
rather than cancel any of the contracts they have agreed with their supporters
in the building trade, when he gives his speech at the Ballybrit think-in on
September 15. Demonstrations will be held there too.

The benefit tonight at the Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam St, will begin with a
reception at 6:00 pm, followed by a debate at 7:00 pm and music and poetry
beginning at 9:00 pm. The debate will be on whether the Hill of Tara should be
declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, despite the M3 passing through it. Music
will be by celtic/jazz singer and RTE broadcaster Melanie O'Reilly, accompanied
by Sean O Nuallain – Guitar; Colm O Sullivan-flute; Miles Drennan – Piano.
Poetry will be by Trinity College Professor, Iggy McGovern. Suggested donation
is 10 euros.

Vincent Salafia said:

"The economic justification for the NDP and the M3 has evaporated, with the
economic downturn, and it is economic suicide to carry on as if nothing has
happened.

"Fianna Fail, mindlessly propped up by the Green Party and the Progressive
Democrats, have clearly made a lot promises to their supporters in the building
trade that they feel cannot be undone, no matter what logic it defies or what
damage it does to the economy as a whole.

"We are demanding truly sustainable development, not the corrupted version we
are being fed at the moment, that is harming rather than improving society as a
whole.

ENDS