THE POOR CANNOT PAY
As the Government this week received the report of the Commission on Taxation, the SVP National Management Council criticised the Government’s attitude towards those most in need. At the same time, “The Poor Can’t Pay” campaign held an “alternative cabinet meeting” to launch their campaign, calling for the Government to protect the most vulnerable from Budget cuts.
The Council expressed concern about the pressure on families created by the Government approach of increasing demands on the public to pay for the problems caused by greedy property speculators and reckless bankers.The Society of St.Vincent de Paul has again warned the Government that it does not accept that basic social welfare payments and the minimum wage should be cut.
The SVP is also supporting Ireland’s leading Non-Governmental Organisation’s (NGOs) and trade unions which have joined forces to launch a campaign “The Poor Can’t Pay,” to highlight that most people in Ireland believe that we must do all we can to protect the most vulnerable people in our society.”
The campaign is mobilising active opposition to proposed cuts to basic social welfare payments and the minimum wage. It has also called on the Government to reverse its decision to cut the Christmas welfare payment.
The SVP has reminded the Government that for several years it warned that Government policies were creating a “two-tier Ireland” of “haves” and “have-nots” and that Government policies had now created this situation.
For more information go to the website www.thepoorcantpay.ie where the public can support the campaign.