Anti- water charge group deliver message to Cabinet

A Sligo anti- water charge group handed in a letter to the Cabinet at its meeting in Lissadell last week calling on it to scrap the water charges. The letter was accepted outside Lissadell by the Taoiseach’s Head of Protocol, Sharon Finnegan.. It was signed by Councillors Declan Bree and Seamus O’Boyle along with Chris MacManus of the Sligo Right2Water Campaign.

The letter stated: “While acknowledging the historic significance of the first ever meeting of an Irish Cabinet in county Sligo we feel obliged to register our objection and opposition to the attempt by the government to impose domestic water charges.

“The provision of sufficient water and sanitation is an essential public service and a human right recognised by the United Nations. “It should be freely available to all regardless of wealth or income. “All citizens need clean drinking water and quality sanitation. “The Right2Water campaign is a public campaign by activists, citizens, community groups, political parties/ individuals and trade unionists who are calling on the Government to recognise and legislate for access to water as a human right. “We are also calling on the Government to abolish domestic water charges. “Water charges discriminate against working people and the unemployed in favour of the wealthy and are another regressive tax taking vital money out of the pockets of people and out of our economy.

“Our public water system is already paid for through general taxation which is progressive and we wish it to remain that way.

“The figures released last week indicating that 57% of households are refusing to pay the water charges is clear confirmation that the majority of citizens are opposed to the imposition of this unjust tax.

“Citizens are also aware that as legislation currently stands there are no penalties for non- payment of the water charges until July of 2016 – after the next general election.

“We believe the time has now come for the government to scrap domestic water charges and go back to the drawing board to produce a water policy which is equitable, efficient and capable of attracting public support.”

With a General Election looming the issue of water charges is expected to be one of the key issues in the campaign.

Pictured at Lissadell House where the Cabinet was meeting was a deputation from the Sligo Right2Water campaign who presented a letter of protest to the Taoiseach’s Head of Protocol at Lissadell: Mr Chris MacManus, Cllr Declan Bree, Ms Sharon Finnegan,...