This was the intention all along. For Fine Gael anyway (an austerity whip was never going to be simply given up). And it seems for Labour too. But the essential apologia for Labour in this government, the raison d’etre (expressed most forcefully by Pat Rabbitte and repeated ad nausuem by them all, and by ‘independent’ Kieran Mulvey of the LRC on Saturday) is to pay our debts, get out of the Troika programme and regain out independence.
Of course this was never going to happen. The replacement of one austerity programme, one neoliberal charter, by another was as predictable as night following day. And Labour is initiating it as much as Fine Gael: Howlin and Noonan jointly.
The ‘restore our indpendence’, ‘we have no choice because the Troika hold the purse strings’ mantra is of course also that of the ICTU and some union leaders. I am thinking of SIPTU in particular. With some alternatives firmly within the parameteres of the Troika’s determination: 3% deficit by 2015. But ho! How are they going to get out of this one? The closer we get to their dry land the further it appears to be moved back.
Anyone thinking of voting ‘yes’ to Hadington Road should ask themselves how austerity is going to be cured and reasonable working terms and conditions restored by these sacrifices when they are already announcing that austerity is to extended beyond Troika territory. And when those announcing this haven’t even got the wit to hold it back tactically until after the ballot. They are saying Hadington Road won’t end or relieve anything: we have another round here for you. Their hubris, or urge to lick the boots of neo-liberalism, blinds them even to the needs of their immediate confidence trick.