On the day when the People Before Profit Alliance launched its Election Campaign Launch, United Left Alliance candidates Joe Higgins MEP & Cllr Joan Collins have said pressure on the Government from the EU to privatise domestic water supply must stop.
The Dublin-based candidates yesterday protested outside the European Commission’s Dublin offices, claiming the commission is putting pressure on the Government to privatise water services.
They handed in a letter for commission president José Manuel Barroso in which they noted “with dismay” the requirement in the EU-IMF Memorandum of Understanding that “the public provision of water services is to end and this function is to be transferred to a utility company”.
The memorandum, signed by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan last December, stated: “We are also planning to move towards full cost-recovery in the provision of water services.”
It also said that in advance of introducing charges, the Government will have undertaken an independent assessment of transfer of responsibility for water services provision to a water utility and “prepare proposals for implementation as appropriate with a view to start charging in 2012-2013”.
Joe Higgins, a candidate in Dublin West, said Veolia, which operates the Luas, was already charging for water in Sligo and had “made inquiries about Ireland’s reservoirs”. According to its website, Veolia also has water operating contracts in Wicklow, Limerick, Westmeath, Waterford, Dublin, Mayo and Donegal.

Official launch of the United Left Alliance/People Before Profit Cllr. Joan Collin’s Campaign Tuesday next 8th February at 7.30 p.m. Crumlin College (VEC), Crumlin Road

New research published by Social Justice Ireland reveals how government polices have not only increased poverty levels in Ireland the gap between rich and poor has dramatically increased. Government policies over the past two decades have moved resources towards the top ten per cent of households in the income distribution.
Richard Boyd Barrett candidate in Dun Laoghaire said "This report reveals what people have working people have always knownThe top 10 per cent of Irish households receive almost a quarter (24.48%) of total disposable income – an increase of 1.34% on the situation in 1987. Disposable income is the amount of money households have to spend after they have received employment/pension income, paid all their taxes and received any welfare entitlements. (cf. page 6 of the Policy Briefing)."

When the income distribution is broken down into deciles (i.e. 10% segments) we see that:

Increase grant aid for the retrofitting of existing homes with insulation Allow apprentices to finish their training, helping them to avoid further exploitation Local Issues

To read Andrew Keegan Election Manifesto click on attachement below

’A reformed construction industry can build a more equal society for all families and communities.’’
Andrew Keegan (People Before Profit candidate, Dublin North West)

Campaign Demands

• Expand school building programmes

• Increase grant aid to retrofit insulating housing stock

• Assist construction families in debt

• Let apprentices finish their training

• Provide open access to retraining

• Dail representation on a workers wage

With thousands of families losing their main wage earner, due to the collapse of the construction industry, they see themselves on the bread line in debt and unable to provide for food and a roof over their heads. With no organisation dedicated to resolve these problems the Construction Industry Federation’s solution, to introduce the minimum wage and roll back wages and conditions on site for the remaining construction workers employed.

An industry that was badly led and corrupt has caused misery for thousands, including architects, engineers and construction managers, no group of employees have been untouched but the hardest hit the lower wage earners who’s dole entitlements are now running out, their families need help and hope of a return to a normal life with a future.

• Establish a viable industry, no to boom bust cycle.

• Proper conditions, pay and training

Listen to Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett on Newstalk 106FM’s Coleman at Large 01/02/11: Part 1 Part 2: