Nenagh rally on Cost of Living
The Tipperary Cost of Living Coalition is organising a demonstration this Saturday, November 19, in Nenagh, meeting at Nenagh train station at 2.30pm with a rally to be held in Banba Square thereafter.
Speaking ahead of the event, Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne said the following: “I am very proud to be involved with the Cost of Living Coalition as we look to build a community campaign to change the many injustices everyone in society is facing. Policy makers and those in power are not doing enough to help people though the cost of living crisis; we are applying plasters using taxpayers’ money instead of tackling those responsible for price gouging and carrying out the major surgery needed to fix the root causes of this crisis.
“Households, individuals and families are facing continuous wage stagnation, spiralling energy/transport costs, a broken housing market and crumbling public and medical services. A cost of living crisis has been escalating here since 2008, long before the global factors over the past three years. Due to constant privatisation, devastating austerity and poor economic planning, all of our society is suffering and suffering unnecessarily, particularly in rural Ireland.
“Everyone is affected by this crisis, from those in need of social housing to renters to mortgage holders, for example, from students to carers to the elderly, people at every stage of life and from all backgrounds are finding it harder and harder to simply get by. This is unacceptable. Small to medium-sized enterprises and businesses are really under pressure at the moment, and like in so many other sectors and services, the big players can weather the storm, reap huge profits and contracts while expanding but local entrepreneurs are forced to shut doors and exit the market.”
Nenagh Sinn Féin representative and Cost of living Coalition member Damian O Donoghue echoed Martin’s statement, adding: “We are urging people to get to Nenagh train station this Saturday at 2.30pm to have your say and make your dissatisfaction known.
“We have seen the power of grassroots community-led campaigns over the past decade shape major changes in Irish society. Public pressure can create changes in government policy, albeit at far too slow a pace. This demonstration as part of the regional phase of this campaign is a vital stepping stone.
“Feet on the street at local and national demonstrations have real effect; people need to have their voice heard.”