PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 19th October 1999

Over 25 local people from the Mountwood Fitzgerald Park community plan to march in the national "Share the Wealth" March and Demonstration planned for Wednesday 20th October.

"At a time of unbelievable wealth the fact that there are so many people living on or below the poverty line who have to march to get their voice heard is an indictment of the society we live in and those who make the decisions about who shares in the wealth" says John Davis, Co-ordinator, with the local Community Development project.

The "March & Demonstration" is demanding a once-off investment package to compensate our areas for years of neglect as well as a real commitment in the budget this year to eradicate poverty. The organisers, from the National Anti-Poverty networks are also demanding that our Public Institutions are resourced for and begin to implement the agreed National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS). There is also a guarantee demanded that sufficient tax be secured for decent public services and that any tax cuts are targeted at the low-paid.

The people and workers of the Mountwood Fitzgerald Park area are marching today to give the message to the government at this decision making time of the year that the time has come for us to build a society where all our children are guaranteed justice and equality as well as the resources to make the current rhetoric reality in the lives of the people of our area as well as all areas currently excluded from the wealth and privileges of the so-called "Celtic Tiger".

Further information:

John Davis 284 2332 / 284 5722 Seamas Carraher: 284 2332 / 284 5722

Mountwood Fitzgerald Park, Co. Dublin
"Share the Wealth" Demonstration on Government Offices (The Dail)

(Briefing from the Unemployed Workers’ Group, Dun Laoghaire & Bray Areas 26/10/99)

Over 25 local people, volunteers and workers from the Mountwood Fitzgerald Park Community in South Dublin, Ireland, marched in the Anti-Poverty Networks "Share the Wealth" March last Wednesday, 20 October.

The message of the marchers was quite clear: despite the rhetoric of the Celtic Tiger there are more people in poverty now than ever before and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider. Much noise was also made regarding the number of prominent people, including politicians, currently under investigation for corruption.

"Bertie Ahearn (Prime Minister) what’s the score?
One law for the rich and one law for the poor!"
Not that we didn’t know this with a lifetime of poverty behind us. But it is time ìt was said and said loudly: meaning enough!

The 500 (approx.) who marched was a disappointment on the 2,000 who marched last year.

It is, however, indicative of a society where those that were already marginalised are now becoming increasingly excluded for not fitting in with the Free Market "Enterprise" Culture of this new Ireland that is emerging.

How can we blame people for not demanding we "Share the Wealth" when for generations it has been a crime to be poor? And when not to be affluent today is become another form of social stigma and a sign of natural inferiority? The fact that the numbers have deteriorated should also raise a serious question for the Leadership of the Anti-Poverty networks who are currently planning to negotiate with government for a new round of Social Partnership.

Maybe part of the problem is that over the last 6 years we have ended up talking with the wrong people. Maybe we need to be doing less talking with those who don’t want to hear our "Share the Wealth" message (Government, Employers) and more talking with those whose future and whose children’s future can only be addressed by our struggle for a just and equal society?

The presence of the people from Mountwood showed how even a small community can make a difference once the message is loud and clear: that we ourselves, as people living in poverty are responsible for changing an unjust system. We don’t need anyone else to do it for us.

What we do need, however, is for all those who believe that the injustice and suffering of the last 50 (500) years was a crime, to stand alongside us in a spirit of solidarity and co-operation as we struggle to give voice to the message that that it is just as much our world as those that control the wealth and resources of our planet. And we demand a society where welfare, justice and solidarity means no one is to be excluded.

Unemployed Workers’ Group