Last week, seven members of the Ballyhea Protest Group met Sharon Bowles, MEP and Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee at the European Parliament. The meeting was also attended by MEPs Marian Harkin and Pat the Cope Gallagher. At the meeting Sharon Bowles told the delegation that she believed the Irish debt burden to be unfair and she agreed to help the group try to meet senior officials from the ECB. Afterwards the group met MEPs Nessa Childers, Phil Prendergast and Sean Kelly where the need for all Irish politicians to apply pressure on this issue was reiterated. Sincere thanks to Brian Crowley MEP and his team for their help in organising the trip to the European Parliament.
Last Thursday, the seven returned to Dublin where they met members of the technical group, Aengus O’Snodaigh TD (SF) and Michael McGrath TD (FF) at the Dáil. It was a productive meeting, exploring ways of moving the campaign forward.
Overall, the trip to Brussels was a huge achievement for the group, which has been campaigning against the injustice of the bank debt since 2011. Organiser Diarmuid O’Flynn says that we can all make a difference if we get out on the streets. Support your local say-no campaign.
The Ballyhea/Charleville group marches next Sunday April 7th in Charleville.