Images: Dublin ETUC European wide day of action against cuts

Hundreds protested at the Dail today against the government after it's return from its summerbreak.
The day got off to an eventful start with a cement truck strategically driving into the front gates of the Dail leaving only scratch marks on the paint. Unlike previous protests at Anglo irish banks, there were no barricades with a much thinner blue line.

Communities and trade unions gathered as part of the ETUC, European Trade Union Congress's European wide day of action. Congress bolted from Anglo Irish Bank a half hour earlier than advertised and wound up their protest by 1.10pm, leaving several hundred who arrived after 1pm to continue the protest outside Buswells led by Joe Higgins. Malachy Steenson, Workers Party, Alan MacSimoin WSM, Terry Kelleher, Public Servant, Ann Conway, TUI activist, and Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit, addressed the crowds. There was some heckling here too, demanding more female speakers!

Congress looked fearful as the audible heckling calling for a general strike grew louder and as TV cameras focussed on a pensioner complaining loudly about the trade union movements inactivity.

Meanwhile, there was a general strike in Spain, Brussels' airport was closed with 100,000 taking to the streets there.
More details at http://www.etuc.org/

Images from Belfast by Kevin Cooper can be seen on Facebook here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=229496&id=7392027...ef=mf
images © Paula Geraghty

Canals communities protest at slashing of the community sector

Members of save 46A bus campaign meeting at Anglo Irish Bank

0 of Congress's unemployment figure

455,000- the number of unemployed in Ireland

Joe Higgins Socialist Party MEP speaking at the rally at the Dáil

Cllr. Richard Boyd Barrett People Before Profit Alliance