Bree’s motion condemning water charges

STANDING ORDERS were adjourned at the first meeting of the Sligo Municipal District to deal with a motion condemming water charges.

Councillor Declan Bree raised the issue and was backed by Councillor Sean MacManus and Clr Seamus O’Boyle.

Clr Bree said families were struggling to cope with the government’s austerity measures

The suspension of Standing Orders was agreed in order to deal with the motion.

Clr Bree said: “It is clear from the results of the local elections that the vast majority of people have no confidence in Fine Gael and Labour.

“It is also abundantly clear that the great majority of people are opposed to the government’s austerity measures and in particular the proposal to impose water charges on domestic dwellings.

“Water is currently processed and supplied to homes all over the country and is already

.“paid for by taxpayers.

“The imposition of the proposed water tax is demanding that ordinary people pay on the double.

He continued: “Nothing can disguise the fact that the extra money raised from the water tax will be used to help clear the debts of the financial speculators and developers.

“Attempts by Fine Gael and Labour to portray the new water tax as being about water conservation are total nonsense.

He said that if the water tax is successfully imposed, the next step will be to sell off the service, just as has happened with the refuse collection service.

Following a short discussion, the totion was adopted with seven councillors voting for the motion, two against and one abstaining.

The councillors who voted for were Bree, Healy, MacManus, O’Boyle, Seamus Kilgannon, Tom MacSharry, and Rosaleen O’Grady.

Hubert Keaney and Sinead Maguire voted against, while Marie Casserly abstained.