'Government pales in comparison to the Vikings'

Sinn Féin members from Athlone and South Roscommon along with others staged two protests outside the governmental parties' conferences over the weekend. The Green Party held their party think-in at the Radisson and Sheraton hotels while Fianna Fáil met in the Hodson Bay Hotel. NAMA, the Lisbon Treaty and next December's Budget were top of the agenda for discussion. Speaking after the protests, local Sinn Féin councillor Paul Hogan said: "The amount of political apathy that currently exists in this state because of the mismanagement of our economy by the Fianna Fáil/ Green Party coalition is palpable. People, right across all sectors, have quite frankly and rightly had enough. "The last people to come down the Shannon to pillage and plunder were the Vikings and they posed little threat in comparison to this government. This government continues to attack the most vulnerable in society. This month we have seen thousands of local children and students attending their respective institutions with overcrowded classrooms, enduring temporary prefabricated buildings, reduction in support teachers and third level fees to name but just a few. "We have also witnessed the refusal to open up beds at local hospitals in Tullamore, Ballinasloe and Mullingar that were temporary closed at the start of the summer. This Government are more concerned with protecting developers, speculators and bankers rather than the general public. "Next month we are being asked to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty. What people must realise is that the architects of the Lisbon Treaty are the same architects that have us in this mess and when people go to the polls, they want to be mindful of that. "This Government does not have a mandate to implement these cutbacks. I am calling for a General Election immediately", concluded Cllr. Hogan.