Socialist MEP Joe Higgins has conceded that it is unlikely that the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) project will be abandoned despite “enormous anger” amongst ordinary people over the proposals.
“Unfortunately the majority in Dáil Éireann do not represent the views of ordinary people so I wouldn’t have any confidence in the Greens or Fianna Fáil backbenchers that they’re going to scupper the Nama project,” the Dublin MEP said.
He said the Green Party's call for senior bankers who had contributed to the economic crisis to resign as part of Nama was “pathetic”.
“They’re sitting in cabinet with the people who are even more responsible for the crash – how come they’re sitting in there with them and not demanding that they go?”
Mr Higgins was speaking outside the NTMA offices, the proposed headquarters of Nama, at the launch by the recently-formed United Alliance Against Cuts (UAAC) this morning to promote a public protest to be held on September 19th. In addition Nama, protestors will also voice objections to proposals by An Bord Snip and the Commission on Taxation.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Councillor Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance urged people who were unhappy with the proposals to attend.
“There’s no guarantee at all that the Nama proposals will kick-start economic recovery in this country and there’s an absolute guarantee that the Nama proposals will consign generations in this country to be repaying the debts of developers and bankers who’ve driven this economy into the ground,” he said.
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that there was “huge anger” among the public over the proposals, adding that his party had received thousands of letters on the subject over the summer months.
“Any conversation that’s being had anywhere, whether it’s in the pub, the church, schools or whatever, it seems to revolve around Nama in the last couple of months and it’s all anger. It’s saying we shouldn’t have to pay for the mistakes of others.”