TRADE UNIONS LED a march against further austerity measures in Dublin today with turnout in the low thousands.

A march organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions had received the backing of SIPTU, Mandate, UNITE and the Irish Council of Trade Unions with Sinn Féin also on the streets today to communicate the party’s pre-budget submission to the public.

According to the Irish Times, fewer than two-thousand demonstrators marched down O’Connell Street, Westmoreland Street and around College Green before finishing in front of a platform outside the GPO where speeches were delivered.

In his speech to the assembled crowds ICTU president Eugene McGlone said:

The cuts being proposed are a political choice by the government and are not required under the EU-IMF deal.

As I said we have been arguing that the government could make the necessary adjustments through taxes on the high income earners, property, capital and corporate income without the need to for more spending cuts and attacks on social welfare.

Meanwhile, the government has confirmed plans to deliver the Budget over two days on 5 and 6 December while Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to address the nation on Thursday night.

The government has consistently maintained that no decisions have yet been taken in relation to the Budget.

Here is a gallery of today’s demonstrations: