Workers Solidarity Movement

Labour's Gilmore says we must all share the pain. A water charge of 200 euros a year, wage cuts for the low paid courtesy of Minister Bruton, house reposessions by the bailed-out banks, emigration for school leavers, overcrowding for prisoners, fee hikes for students, cuts in hospitals... none of this really affects the life style of the wealthy, whose very wealth insulates them against the worst effects of the recession.  Not many bankers, newspaper editors, company CEOs or government ministers are suffering in any real sense.

Gilmore of course was commenting on the decision of Dublin Airport Authority CEO Declan Collier to forego his bonus of 106,000 euro after a public outcry and pressure from Minister Varadkar.  Of course Collier still retained his salary of over €300,000 and came home with a package of over €600,000 in 2010.  But sure he's sharing the pain now isn't he?

There is a massive disconnect between Ireland's overwhelmingly right-wing media and the reality of the life working class people are living.  The government are arrogant enough to believe that empty rhetoric about "everyone sharing the pain" provides cover for their agenda of making the working class pay for the crisis.