TECHNICAL GROUP PRESS RELEASE

17TH January 2012

TECHNICAL GROUP TO MEET WITH TROIKA AT 5PM IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

A delegation from the Dáil’s Technical Group will today meet with members of the Troika to discuss, among other things:

·        the overall approach of austerity enshrined in the EU/IMF Programme;

·        the available options for the reduction of Irish national, banking & personal debt; and,

·        the exact level of conditionality contained within the programme to establish the line between the requirements of the programme and the matters in which the Irish government retain decision-making powers.

The Technical Group will be represented by Independent Deputies Shane Ross, Stephen Donnelly, Catherine Murphy, Mick Wallace and Mattie McGrath and United Left Alliance TDs Clare Daly and Richard Boyd Barrett.

The group, which makes up almost a third of all opposition Dáil Deputies, has welcomed the opportunity open a dialogue with the key persons in charge of monitoring the EU/IMF programme. 

Further comment will follow on from the 5pm meeting.

ENDS

For comment please contact individual Deputies directly or the Technical Group Whips Office at 01 618 3591 or 086 414 0221