Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Dublin on Saturday to demand the government drops its plan to introduce new water charges. Opponents say they can’t afford to pay and it is an austerity measure by the Irish government.
The organizers of the rally, ‘Right2Water’ said around 80,000
attended the protest. However local police said the figure was
nearer 20,000 to 30,000, according to the Irish Times. This was
the fourth and largest mass protest since October, when the Irish
government, which is seeking re-election next year, decided to
start charging the public for the water they use.
Irish politician Ruth Coppinger urged the protesters not to give
in and pay the water charge. She believes that if people do not
pay up, then the government will eventually be forced to drop the
controversial charge.
Amazing day – tens of thousands at R2W protest in Dublin! This
is the view from the speakers platform #Wewontpaypic.twitter.com/XWvI3XgcRc
— Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD)
March 21, 2015
“Any future Government no matter who is in it…if the water
charges are paid they will keep the water charges going. There
are no penalties for non-payment for one whole year and three
months…by which point there will be a new government,” she
said, AFP reports.
The first bills from the new Irish Water utility are due to be
sent to households next month. The protests across the country
have already forced the government to make some concessions
including the abandonment of pay as you go meters. Dublin has
introduced fixed rate meters, which charge water at 160 euros
($172) for single households and 260 euros for others.
The water company says that around two thirds of those who are
eligible to pay the charge have already registered with Irish
Water. Approximately 1.5 million homes will receive water bills.
Ireland – From the Rivers to the Sea, #IrishWater
will be Free – massive #right2water
demo | Pic Via @Revolution_IRLpic.twitter.com/FrXTZeyk2J
— Revolution News (@NewsRevo) March
21, 2015
“This government believes that the anti-water charges
campaign is dying, that we are on our last legs. Well, today we
have sent them a message,” said Lynn Boylan, a member of the
European Parliament for the opposition Sinn Fein party.
“These families simply cannot take any more. The government
is pushing people over the edge.”
The campaign, which has been organized by the pressure group
Right2Water, argues the provision of adequately treated water and
sanitation is a vital public service, and a fundamental human
right recognized by the United Nations (UN). It is calling for
the Irish government to legislate accordingly, and abolish its
plans to enforce water charges on Irish citizens.
Couldn’t put it better! #Right2Water
#March21
pic.twitter.com/oFnnXzfVyn
— Rtenonews (@RteNoNews) March
21, 2015
Speaking to RT before the rally took place, Unite trade union
official and Right2Water Ireland co-coordinator Brendan Ogle said
the Irish “will not put up with this ideologically driven
extra tax.”
He said the Irish government is unwilling to publicly acknowledge
growing opposition to the water charges, but is
“terrified” behind closed doors.
READ MORE: ‘Tell the truth!’ Protesters rally in
Ireland against ‘biased’ national broadcaster
Ogle insisted “the majority of the population will refuse to pay
this tax, which is now law.”
“They thought they had gotten away with socializing €65bn of
private debt, with a vicious five year austerity agenda. For five
years those events caused nothing less than a national collective
trauma. But now the Irish people have had enough and the
government know it,” he added.
The water charges were introduced by Ireland as the final part of
the country’s austerity measures, which has seen the government,
try to save €30 billion over a seven year period. Under the
previous system, water bills were paid through general taxation
and the services were operated by local authorities.
Ireland was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis; however the
country is currently enjoying unprecedented economic growth. Its
economy surged to a post crisis high of 4.8 percent in 2014 and
it is again tipped to be the fast growing economy in the European
Union this year.