CFE take part in USI Budget Day Demo.

The Campaign for Free Education (CFE) occupied the Department of Transport as part of a demonstration against FF-PD cut backs in today's budget.

The USI demonstration was supported by the UCDSU due to pressure of the elected CFE SU Councillors. Hundreds assembled outside the Department of Finance and listened to speeches. Among the speakers was Aonghus Hourihane the UCDSU President. He was jeered by some in the crowd for allegedly supporting fees and being a member of Fianna Fáil.

The Union Sabbatical officers in UCD did nothing to mobilise for the day, and the job fell to CFE activists.

The demonstration then marched down towards the Kildare Street entrance to the Dáil. At this point the USI leadership deliberatly tamed down the demonstration by assisting Gardaí to put students behind large barriers on Molesworth Street. There was a clear mood for more militant action on the march. The CFE contingent then attempted to lead the demonstration around the barriers and onto Kildare Street. However the protesters were unsuccessful in this.

The CFE then decided to occupy a government building. The Department of Transport is the government department of sleezy cigar-smoking and brandy-sipping FF minister Séamus Brennan. The occupation received considerable media coverege.
The student protests outside Leinster House is a part of a wider movement against government cut-backs. Also present outside the Dáil today was a workers' demonstation organised by Socialist Party and Independent TDs, Community and Trade Union activists and a demonstration against hospital cut-backs.


see photos here.