The 2011 election has been called by many a ‘riot at the ballot box’. Fianna Fail, the main ruling party since the foundation of the state, was punished for their failure to address the economic crisis and their austerity politics.

In Dublin they only managed to get one TD elected. But the new government of Fine Gael and Labour have in the space of a few weeks proven that they will offer more of the same, despite their rhetoric of change and reform during the election campaign. Their Programme for Government contains the same 4-year Plan that was drawn up by Fianna Fail and the Greens.

There is also a new force in Irish politics and that is the newly formed United Left Alliance. With 5 TD’s elected to the Dail there is an opportunity for the Left to organise on a big scale against cuts, water charges and the property tax which will hit ordinary people in the next while.

The local United Left Alliance candidate and People Before Profit Councillor Gino Kenny says: ‘I would like to thank everyone who voted for me in the election but it is now the hard work starts. The new government will continue the same attacks on working people and the unemployed. It is time to say; Enough is enough! Enda Kenny will put even more money into the banks, while ordinary people are struggling to pay their mortgages, their bills and the rising costs of fuel.’

Richard Boyd Barrett, new TD for the People Before Profit Alliance, Cllr Gino Kenny and Leah Speight will be speaking at a meeting in The Waterside Pub, Clondalkin on Tuesday 22^nd March at 7.30pm.