Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, addressed a Sinn Féin solidarity rally with the Greek people ahead of the emergency meeting of the Eurozone Finance Ministers today.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“The Syriza Government are the first Government of a highly indebted country to stand up to the EU and the institutions forcing austerity on the country.

“The Troika’s bailout programme and forced austerity has only resulted in low growth, high unemployment, and rising inequality in Greece and Ireland.

“Yet what side is the Irish Government on?

“You would think that the Government of this small country that has a debt to GDP ratio of 111% would back the Greek Government in attempts to get a debt write down.

“Instead the Government cowers in the corner and supports the drivers of austerity. It continues to do the work of the small European elite against the needs and wishes of the majority.

“Michael Noonan told the Oireachtas Finance Committee yesterday that this Government will not support any write down of debt for Greece.

“This rally is to show solidarity with the Greece people and that this Irish Government does not represent us.

“Sinn Féin will continue to support Syriza’s demands for a write down of Greece’s unsustainable debt burden because it makes sense for Greece and for Europe, but more importantly, because the same would makes sense for Ireland.”

ENDS