Moate cost of living crisis meeting attracts massive crowd

by David Flynn

A very large gathering at a public meeting in Moate on Sunday called for government action to reduce the cost of fuel and abolish carbon tax, while giving a show of hands on a renewed campaign of street protests if the cost-of-living demands are not made.

The meeting at The Well, Moate, which was organised by Christopher Duffy, John Dallon and James Geoghegan, was attended by hundreds from all over the country. The trio were among the leaders of last April’s protests.

After listening to the many contributions, the organisers said they would bring a document to the government with a list of the concerns.

The prospect of further protests was made clear during the meeting, with the crowd indicating its willingness to return to the streets if there was no meaningful response from the government during the budget next week.

The meeting was addressed by the three organisers, whilst among the many others to make contributions were Fine Gael’s Longford/Westmeath Deputy Micheal Carrigy and Senator Padraic Brady, two Government representatives present, Roscommon/Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin and Sinn Féin Senator Joanne Collins.

James Geoghegan said he was “absolutely shocked and overwhelmed” by the size of the gathering, referring to the large numbers inside and outside the venue. There was a large outdoor screen displaying the proceedings of the meeting to another large gathering.

“This evening is going to send a massive message to the government that the people of Ireland are absolutely fed up in the way they have been treated over the last couple of years, and it has to stop and it has to change,” he said.

Christopher Duffy said people remained under severe financial pressure and that the cost of fuel was at the centre of many of the difficulties being experienced by households and businesses.

Mr Duffy said nobody wanted to be out protesting, but that people were being left with little choice.

He also criticised the carbon tax applied to heating oil and said the organisers wanted politicians to explain what they intended to do now.

“If needed, we’ll be back on them roads,” he said, while Mr Dallon asked the audience if they wanted to ‘hit the roads’, if the Government doesn’t come back with satisfactory action.

See this week’s print edition for full report