Protest in Ireland of government handling of economy

[Joanne98]

Source: CNN


(CNN) -- Hundreds of thousands of workers filled the streets of Dublin on Saturday to protest the government response to Ireland's economic downturn.

Up to 120,000 people attended the peaceful demonstration that included a march from Parnell Square to Merrion Square, Dublin police said. No arrests were made, police said.

The protest was organized by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). Workers from Waterford Crystal and SR Technic, two companies facing economic problems amid the recession, led the march.

Ireland's economy was booming until last year when it was hit with the most "profound global economic crisis in seventy years," due in large part to a significant decline in the housing and construction markets, according to the government's Web site.

In addition, Ireland's economy has sustained continued pressure from the devaluation of its Sterling currency against the Euro.



Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/02/21/ireland.economy/

[CJCRANE]

1. "In addition, Ireland's economy has sustained continued pressure

from the devaluation of its Sterling currency against the Euro."

I thought Ireland used the Euro?

:shrug:

[Lost in CT]

3. Ireland does use the Euro. Maybe it refers to imports from or exports to the UK

Either way it is a strange complaint.

Ireland's problems are to many immigrants (both legal and otherwise) as well as a housing bubble that makes California look rational.

[billyoc]

4. Both.

[steaa]

6. They do... and cross border shopping I guess its referring to.

Loads of people from the Republic have been doing their shopping here in Northern Ireland now because of the exchange rate, the queues were mad here around Christmas time in the border towns with shoppers from across the RoI.

See: http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Cross-border-shopping-row-.4916509.jp and http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Border-shops-benefit-from-.4795517.jp and http://www.politics.ie/economy/38991-retailers-south-look-away-asda-enniskillen-raking-2-million-week.html

Edit: Aack, responded to the wrong post. I meant to respond to Lost in CT.

[billyoc]

2. That's astonishing, in a country of less than 5 million.

Go Irish!

[Bigmack]

5. I wonder how bad...

things will have to get before Americans do anything more than bleat like sheep as the fat cats continue to give themselves bonuses from government bailout money borrowed from China?

[DemReadingDU]

7. CNN reports protests in Ireland, does CNN report protests in U.S.?

Or maybe there are no protesters in U.S.?


edit for typo