Ógra Shinn Féin welcomes Taoiseach’s Resignation

Ógra Shinn Féin welcomes the resignation of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Mr Ahern announced that he will be resigning from office on May 6 after 11 years as Taoiseach and 14 years as leader of Fianna Fail.

Speaking on the Taoiseach’s resignation, National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin Barry McColgan said,

“While Bertie Ahern has played a positive role in the peace process, overall his tenure has ensured that Ireland has regressed on many key issues including public services, neutrality, the equality agenda, political transparency, national heritage/resources and suicide prevention.”

“His years in office have ensured that Ireland is one of the most unequal countries in the world with an ever growing gap between rich and poor. Despite the huge economic boost delivered by the Celtic tiger, almost a decade later it is clear that only a small percentage have benefited.”

“Bertie Ahern has pushed forward with and endorsed a privatisation policy that is ensuring a sub standard, and two tier service on many critical areas like health. The legacy of under funding and privatisation on health will mean a stark difference in the service delivered to those who can and cannot pay, and huge numbers of otherwise preventable deaths as waiting lists grow.”

“Suicide is the biggest killer of our young people across Ireland , and Leinster House’s response to this growing epidemic has been downright scandalous, and dangerous. The small level of funding directed at dealing with this huge tragedy has remained static and Bertie Ahern’s own record on the issue of suicide has been insensitive and dismissive, as was demonstrated by his grossly negligent remarks on suicide at the ICTU conference last year.”

“Throughout his decade in power we have also witnessed Bertie Ahern contravening Irish neutrality with his compliance on the US/British illegal and murderous occupation of Iraq . Not only has Bertie Ahern authorised huge numbers of US war planes to re-fuel at Shannon , he has also been compliant in the illegal extradition flights. This makes a mockery of Irish neutrality and basic human rights.”

“We have also witnessed a disregard to the very ideas espoused in the 1916 proclamation with the give away of the Irish Corrib Gas field’s and the proposed demolition of the hugely historic Hill of Tara site. The government’s bully boy tactics in baton charging, intimidating and jailing the communities and activists that campaign against these criminal government acts, would be condemned internationally if it was happening in Zimbabwe.”

“Perhaps the Taoiseach’s crowning legacy will be his dodgy dealings and overt corruption, which has now forced him to resign. This has been very damaging to political transparency and has a negative impact on engaging young people in politics. We must campaign against the brown envelope politics that Fianna Fail has growingly come to represent, and work to ensure that a more transparent, a more equal and positive future emerges. An Ireland that derives inspiration from the proclamation and ensures the freedom and equality that was laid out on easter week 1916.”