The crowds developed at Parnell Square on O’Connell St and outside Trinity College, converging in the cities main thoroughfare to form a thronging mass of voices of dissent and anger. They marched to Molesworth St. to face the Dáil and tell the establishment that fees are no solution, that cuts are no solution chanting, shouting, drumming and singing all the way.
At Molesworth St they were addressed by a number of opposition politicians including Sinn Féin’s education spokesperson Seanadoir Pearse Doherty, a former student of DIT, had this to say:
“Having failed to win public support over the summer for the reintroduction of third level fees government’s plan B is clearly to over time increase registration fees to the point that they will effectively equal third level fees. Fianna Fáil and the Greens should be delivering education policy that takes down barriers to education access not policy that puts them up”
The crowd was also addressed by Shane Kelly USI president who reiterated the students resolve to campaign until fees are dropped as a possibility and the attacks on education cease.
Oisín Ó Dubhláin, Cathaoirleach of Ógra Shinn Féin who attended the march said this:
“Today the young and old of Ireland have sent a clear message to the FF/Green government. Cuts and other attacks on essential services which are the right of all the people of Ireland, will not be tolerated. This is simply the beginning, if the government and its cronies do not recognise our wishes students will not simply comply. We came today to take back our rights, to stand up to the irresponsible policies of this government and we will not stop until we have achieved our aims. We owe it to ourselves and our country."
No comments:
Post a Comment