Cllr. Daithí Doolan challenges PD Vision for Europe
Published: 14 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on Europe Cllr. Daithí Doolan questioned the Tánaiste & Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell's vision for the future of Europe following the Minister's key note address at the National Forum of Europe plenary session held today at Dublin's Westin Hotel.
Speaking at the event Cllr. Doolan put it to Minister McDowell that his interpretation of a, "liberal European democracy is one that puts the wants of the economic elite above the needs of the ordinary citizen.
Cllr. Doolan said, "the Progressive Democrat vision for the future of Europe as presented by Minister McDowell today is one that enthusiastically endorses the open market, speaks of freedoms to compete & privatisation of essential services. For the PDs liberalising markets and lowering taxes is an expression of their democracy. We are told a strong Europe is one that focuses solely on economic competition, security, immigration; and treats social policy as an after thought. This does little to benefit the ordinary European citizen."
Cllr. Doolan continued, "The Europe the PDs want is one where a Department of Health refuses to put more beds into public hospitals whilst at the same time pumps vast sums of taxpayers monies into the development of private hospitals. Where a Department of Justice care not about tackling violent crime or the massive inequalities in our state; but choose instead to put its resources into deporting tiny numbers of the world's most vulnerable people back to oppressive and insecure regimes. Where the Minister of Finance continues to give tax breaks to the largest earners. It is a Europe that celebrates inequality."
Cllr. Doolan concluded, "Sinn Féin supports a Europe of equals that delivers responsible social policy which is supported by economic prosperity. We work with our parliamentary partners in the European United Left/Nordic Greens, to achieve a true partnership of equal sovereign states co-operating in social and economic development in Europe and beyond."
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