Irish Economy 2009: Following the huge public protest in Dublin on Saturday, trade unions are reported to be considering organising strike ballots. In Nenagh, the Minister of State for Older People, Máire Hoctor, was booed off the stage at a protest in her North Tipperary constituency when 4,000 people marched in protest over proposed cuts to Nenagh General Hospital. With a government, moving at glacial speed in response to a huge financial crisis, lacking legitimacy because most of the Cabinet were ignorant cheerleaders of an out-of-control property boom and much of the population deluded themselves into believing that the free lunch has been invented, focus of protest should be on forcing the Greens into triggering a general election. The alternative of industrial strike action and fudge from a weak government, would further undermine the listing economy as tens of thousands face the misery of unemployment.