Paul Murphy: Disabled People Led the Cost‑of‑Living Fight
Paul Murphy challenges the government over its response to cost-of-living protests led by disabled people and accuses ministers of ignoring urgent pleas for a 400 euro emergency payment. He details targeted budget cuts and says militant protest and strikes are now the essential tools to force policy change.
Protests and who led them
Paul Murphy highlights that disabled people were at the forefront of the Affordable Ireland campaign and cost-of-living protests, drawing attention to the impact of the recent budget. He singles out a 1,400 euro package of targeted cuts that hit disabled people hardest and argues that their request for a 400 euro emergency payment was repeatedly ignored.
Government response and sudden funds
Murphy accuses the government of lecturing disabled people about fiscal responsibility while only releasing substantial funds after public protest. He notes ministers found over half a billion euros after pressure, but warns that international oil price shocks and ongoing conflicts risk wiping gains away without structural measures like a price cap.
Strategy and demands
Speaking as an advocate for militant action, Murphy urges trade unions to recognise the effectiveness of strikes and disruptive action. He outlines demands including higher wages, universal free public services, real rent controls, increased social welfare, a break from fossil fuel dependence and immediate measures such as free public transport.
Consequences and context
Murphy frames the current moment as a shift into a new phase of protest politics where visible, disruptive action compels government response. He stresses the need for organised labour and civil society to use their industrial power to secure lasting changes in social and economic policy.
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I want to remind the government about the group that has led the way actually up until the last week or so, the group that led the way on the cost of living struggle was disabled people. Outside the Dáil again and again and again leading the Affordable Ireland campaign protest a few weeks ago. Why were they to the fore? Because they were the ones who were hit hardest in the budget. 1400 euros worth of cruel targeted cuts at disabled people and for months despite all the pleading, all the protests, all the argument, all the stories about people having to choose between heating and eating, the government ignored their request for a 400 euro, just 400 euro emergency payment so that they could pay their winter heating bills. Instead the government lectured them, lectured disabled people, lectured carers that it has to be responsible, has to be careful with state finances. Now suddenly the government on a Sunday night found over half a billion euros down the back of the couch. Some of that will trickle down to workers, disabled people and carers which is welcome, it wouldn't have happened without the protest but without a price cap in place. Actually as you said yourself, I heard you on Morning Ireland, that can all be and it was already wiped away by the international price of oil going up further caused by Trump and Netanyahu's illegal wars. While this cowardly government has still not condemned the Trump or Netanyahu for their wars despite the claptrap about standing up for international law. It's often said that power comes from the barrel of a gun, in this country it seems that power comes from the engine of a tractor. The message to the government from the government is very clear, if you don't take militant protest action they'll ignore your demands no matter how reasonable and how justified they are, they don't want to know. The trade unions have to take heed of this as they enter into pay talks. We're in a new phase of militant protest, workers don't need heavy machinery to force the government to listen to them. The most effective form of disruptive action is the strike and that is the power that all workers have. If they use it they can fight not just for higher wages but for universal free public services, real rent controls, increases in social welfare payments, universal measures on the cost of living crisis including breaking with the reliance on fossil fuels which has got us into this crisis in the first place. The most immediate thing on that that can be done is free public transport, it could be done tomorrow, it needs to be done.
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