Tag: Brid Smith TD

Before Xmas I queried the Minister about the numbers of people refused carers’ allowance initially, who are then forced to appeal (which takes months) before being accepted. I also asked about the dramatic rise in the numbers of people penalised under the Jobpath scheme from 63 in 2015 to 5,681 in 2018. She responded defensively (a lot of waffle is cut from this video clip) but bottom line is FG could care less about the vulnerable in society

 

We need legislation protecting workers from bogus self-employment. Our governent says it needs proper figures on the extent of bogus self-employment before it can act, but employees must be protected first – otherwise they are at further risk of victimisation and abuse. I made these points just before Xmas in the Dáil.

Very proud to be able to speak on the 100th anniversary of getting the vote in 2018. The right to vote was hard won by revolutionary action; it brought us formal democratic rights, but now we need REAL DEMOCRACY. So instead of a tiny elite deciding how the wealth and resources in society are divvied up – we all get to have a say – ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY. Speed the day!

An ERSI report shows that this govt looks after the top earners – not the ‘early risers’ nor the ‘squeezed middle’! Figures show that the last budget left average households WORSE off than before. Lower income housholds lost most. And according to economist Michael Taft, the real winners over the last 8 years are the very high earners. Average housholds are paying more tax, and are poorer than before the budget. Some recovery!

I welcome the move to define what ‘family’ means for refugees, and I welcome refugees and their families – just as the Irish needed a ‘welcome’ in our darkest days. And I condemn the actions of fascist sympathisers outside the gates of the Dáil as we speak, the ‘Irexit’ bullies who assembled to ‘do down’ these vulnerable people.

 

If RTE had given me more than just one sentence here I would said that what we need to tackle climate change, is not carbon taxes on ordinary people but carbon taxes on the real culprits, the giant corporations, and we need to stop further exploration for fossil fuels. VIVA THE YELLOW JACKETS!