PROTESTERS against the water charges are gathering in Dundrum this week to discuss their next step in the campaign.
Representatives from the Dublin 14, 16 and 18 areas will be meeting in the Mill Theatre on Tuesday night ahead of the Right to Water Anti Water Charges Assembly on December 10.
Top of the agenda will be organising a delegation from the area to join the mass demonstration that is due to take place outside the Dáil next month.
Claiming that the Government is reeling from the strength of the countrywide opposition to the new charges, campaigners say they are keen to continue to deliver the message that they must be abolished.
Nicola Curry, organiser of the Right to Water Campaign in the area and People Before Profit representative, said the Government was on the ropes over the issue.
“The latest concessions are a huge achievement for the campaign and show that the
Government has neither the confidence nor capacity to force the charges through,
? she said.
“We need to keep the pressure on and ensure their total abolition.
“They tried threats of cut offs but have now had to adopt a softly, softly approach. I don’t think people will be fooled.
“Bitter experience has taught us all that these charges will rise and rise. Those marching on the streets in their hundreds of thousands have made it clear that water must remain accessible to all.
?
Ms Curry said the December 10 demonstration, taking place on International Human Rights Day, would be a family friendly event with appeals going out for people to stay away from work, college and school.
However, in the Dail last week, as details of the new charges were unveiled, Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) welcomed the announcement of what she described as a
“fair, simple and affordable
? water plan.
Deputy Mitchell O’Connor acknowledged the frustration of the Irish people who protested legitimately, but said that violence and intimidation must be condemned.
“I accept that the roll out of Irish Water was handled badly,
? she said.
“This is a fact that Minister Kelly has acknowledged, but today the Government has responded with a revised, more realistic and most importantly, a fair plan for water charges.
“Today’s announcement has come about because the Government has listened to people who expressed genuine concern. The violence and intimidation we have seen over the past few days has been destructive rather than constructive and has not assisted the reasonable people who have legitimately expressed their concerns.
“I know one young female engineer who was threatened with a baseball bat, workers have been followed home and they have been vilified on social media. This is simply unacceptable behaviour.
?
Also speaking in the Dail, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he had made a promise that the Government would listen to people’s genuine concerns about the impact and affordability of water charges.
“We also promised to bring clarity, certainty and predictability to this issue and that’s what the Government has done in its decisions today,
? he said.
“There is recognition from all reasonable voices that the antiquated 19th century set up we had for water services would not serve the needs of our country or our children.
“For too long difficult political choices were ignored and put off by previous Governments.
“Today we are outlining a comprehensive package that will provide long term certainty for everyone.
?
It was revealed that single adult households will have a capped charge of
?¬160 but will amount to an effective charge of
?¬60 after registering with Irish Water to receive an annual water conversation grant of
?¬100 from the Government.
All other households will have a capped charge of
?¬260 but will also amount to an effective charge of
?¬160 once the annual water conversation grant is also taken into consideration.
Tánaiste Joan Burton added that the Government had listened and delivered.
“We have listened to concerns and frustrations expressed regarding Irish Water,
? she said.
“And we have delivered a new charging structure that is affordable and that provides certainty and clarity about what people will have to pay.
“Water charges are an investment in a cleaner environment that underpins our attraction to tourists and our agricultural base,
? she added.
“They are an economic investment, vital to attract continuing local and foreign investment. They are a vital ingredient to secure a better quality of life for every family.
However Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for health, Aengus Ã? Snodaigh, criticised the concessionary measures brought forward by the Government as being regressive and certain to rise.
“Today’s package assumes the public are fools,
? he said.
“It is a transparent attempt to hoodwink the public into signing up to a water charge that will inevitably rise in the future.
“But the public are not fools. The public do not trust this Government and they will not swallow.
?
Responding to reports that councils will be responsible for ensuring local authority tenants pay outstanding water charges, his fellow Sinn Féin member on Dublin City Council, Cllr Daithi Doolan, said local authorities should not become debt collectors for Irish Water.
“This is an insult,
? he said.
“It clearly shows just how desperate this Government really is. Local authorities have never before been asked to hunt down tenants for unpaid bills and it certainly will not happen now. This Government has created this water charge mess and it is up to them to clean it up.
?