Ireland is exempt from water charging, so why is the government doing it?
Please read the letter by former MEP Kathy Sinnott in today’s Irish Times, which will highlight why there is absolutely no demand upon Ireland from the EU to charge for domestic water supply. Ireland is protected from the EU water framework directive regarding domestic charging by an exemption agreed in 2000, something they have remained very quiet about. More importantly, the only way that exemption can be overturned is if Ireland itself gives it up. This is why Fine Gael and Labour are running this water propaganda campaign.
The only reason it is happening seems to be to benefit those in a small elite who will gain from the installation and running of the system, and ultimately through the control and sale of our water for private profit. Worse still is that they know about this exemption, and they are continuing to lie to the people to pursue their goal.
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This a usurpation of the common good and of the people by a devious and deceitful government. What’s more, every other party that supports charging for domestic water supplies is also guilty of involvement in the same campaign to misappropriate our water resources by stealth and deceit.
Now we see the true colours of the old order of Irish politics. All parties who have championed metering domestic water in full knowledge of this exemption are co-conspirators and therefore cannot be trusted to truthfully administer our country on any issue.
We urge everyone to make sure no party that supported domestic water charges at any stage gets into government at the next election, no matter how much back-peddling they did in recent or future weeks and months,
DDI wish to keep our water in public ownership and to improve the efficiency and co-ordination in the system, currently run by councils, through a municipal board which can develop and innovate the system at a national level.
8 Comments
Patrick Kirwan
What is going in the country at the moment is high treason for want of a better word lies and more lies. Kenny lied his way in to power and he just cant stop him and Hogan should be dragged through courts.
Eddie Fitzgerald
Therefor, the “Demands” from the Troika that we have “proper” water charges in place or else, are just a bag of wind aimed at frightening the people if Ireland!
Donal O’Brolchain
“DDI wish to keep our water in public ownership and to improve the efficiency and co-ordination in the system, currently run by councils, through a municipal board which can develop and innovate the system at a national level.”
Does this mean that DDI would agree, as an example to
1) increased local charges to enhance the treatment of water for human consumption and after human consumption;
2) metering as means of conservation and awareness raising?
Note that since rates on domestic residences were abolished in the late 1970s, responsibility and power to provide water stayed with local authorities until the Irish Water Act came into force.
However, Central government acted in whimsical and arbitrary ways so that the proper investment in water services was not done systemactically and consistently. It is not at all clear that local authorities were publicly active in trying to ensure that they had the resources to carry out their water treatment/provision responsibilities.
That is why there have been boil water bnotices in vaxrious parts of the country – at various times. That is why over 40 towns continue to pump untreated sewage into water ways.
Admin D
Good points, I would say that you are right that when we had the money to carry out public infrastructure improvement our governments failed to invest, preferring tax breaks to fuel the overheating economy and guarantee votes. It really all comes back to the unlawful debt that is causing us to pay 9 billion a year in interest. How different things would be if the state had a spine of its own. Sadly we will have to bail them out one way or another, either with our labour or with our sovereign authority. I think there are many ways public infrastructure could be funded including public banking or public investment. However our government is limited in its thinking that all investment comes from private banking. Just my thoughts, not policy
Deirdre Keegan
I think it’s not just water we need, it’s also energy and food security. Why has not all new builds have water and energy saving/conservation (rainwater capture, photovoltaic/solar panels) measures attached as a condition of planing.this is happening in the North, why is it not happening here? Answer the big boys won’t make enough money.
jeannie
but surely the 2,1billion collected through general taxation every year,would have gone a long way to funding local councils,we dont want a super fat cat gold plated Quango! paid for off the backs of the poorest,and vulnerable Irish people,i wont pay.Mass civil disobedience when the bills land on our mats in April will disable this corrupt Government.
Graham Mc Allister
Lets get right to the root of the problem and no beating around the bush, this is yet another deception by our corupt governments to take more money of the 99% and make the 1% richer, property tax, water tax, pay cuts, social benefits cuts and unemployment rise, stand back a take a look at the bigger picture, there is more technology and money on this planet than there ever was, so why the recession, it is all by design, make the 1% richer and the 99% poorer, its a form of slavery. The Irish have had enough of this puppet corupt government and its policies, they are selling Ireland off to the 1%. I agree Jeannie with the mass peaceful protest but that is not enough for they will soon turn nasty, the people of Ireland must wake up to the coruption that has plagued this country for years vote in a policy of fairness and equality for each and everyone, a policy for Ireland first, a policy for the people.
WE WON,T BACK DOWN, WE’ll STAND OUR GROUND.
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A Truth seeker
Ken O Heiligh
I served on my local council for 10 years and witnessed first hand how they control boards. There is an old saying, he who pays the piper calls the tune. For instance the local authorities are cutting funding to homeless aid groups and women and children shelters and no one on these boards will speak out.
I remain Independent and am not alined to any political party but I feel that DDI are heading in the right direction.