FIVE MEMBERS of the Dáil refused to pass the picket placed on Leinster House yesterday by members of the Civil Public and Services Union who were on a one-day strike in protest at the Government’s pension levy.
The four Sinn Féin TDs and Dublin North Central independent Finian McGrath refused to pass the picket in solidarity with the strikers and missed Dáil business for the day.
Speaking at the picket line outside Leinster House, Sinn Féin workers’ rights spokesman Arthur Morgan appealed to the Government not to enact the pensions levy.
“Sinn Féin’s Oireachtas team is today standing in solidarity with the CPSU workers who are picketing Leinster House in protest against the grossly inequitable so-called public service pension levy,” said Mr Morgan.
“As I stated when I spoke on the Bill on Tuesday evening, we know that people in the public service are willing to make a fair contribution to help address the economic crisis but they are not willing and they will not stand for the imposition of this discriminatory tax, a tax on public service rather than a levy on public service pensions.” .
Senator Ivana Bacik, a Trinity College independent senator, also refused to pass the picket.
Senator Bacik also issued a statement in support of the CPSU staff on strike for the day at Leinster House.
“On principle, and out of solidarity with the CPSU staff including many colleagues who are on strike today for one day, I will not be passing the picket that has been placed on Leinster House.”
