People Before Profit Calls for Investment in Water Infrastructure
- FAILURE TO INVEST IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE HAS SENT COMMUNITIES BACK TO THE DARK AGES
- PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT CALLS FOR EMERGENCY PROGRAMME TO UPGRADE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
PBPA said the government have been fully aware of the need to urgently replace water mains across the country and to increase reservoir capacity but had simply failed to provide the resources to do this.
Dublin City Councillor Joan Collins, who will be a People Before Candidate in the General Election, said:
“The massive hardship now being experienced by thousands of people– particularly families with children and the elderly – is not the unfortunate result of extreme weather conditions; it is the result of systemic government failure.
PRESS STATEMENT – APRIL 19th from the Anti Water Tax Campaign
* ATTEMPTS TO RE-INTRODUCE DOMESTIC WATER TAX WILL BE VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED – WARNS ANTI-WATER TAX CAMPAIGN
* RESIDENTS WILL NOT PAY ON THE DOUBLE FOR GOVERNMENT INACTION
Responding to the announcement by Minister Gormley of his intention to implement water charges and meters as part what he calls a major investment in water infrastructure, campaigners warned that his plans will be met with a mass campaign of civil disobedience, the length and breath of the country, which will make the charge uncollectable.
Investment in water infrastructure has long been inadequate. Government starving of local authority funds are compounding the problem, and now the bill for their inaction is to be borne by hard-pressed residents. This will not be tolerated.
Half of the state’s housing stock has been built since we succeeded in abolishing this tax in the mid-1990s, yet precious little water conservation measures were put in place in terms of rain water harvesting or dual flush toilets. Now they want to introduce meters. This exposes the con, if this was about conservation, they would be investing far more and would be linking it with new building regulations, all meters do is to measure consumption, they don’t alter it. Their only purpose to commodify an essential public service and facilitate a direct charge. Workers and pensioners cannot afford to pay on the double. We all pay through our central taxation.
The investment in infrastruture upgrade announced by the Minister pales into insignificance to the €12 billion to Anglo Irish Bank, and the tens of billions that will be paid by the taxpayer to the other banks and NAMA.
Stand By to Repel Water Charges!
Campaigners against water charges in the North are preparing for action as the Executive parties hint they might renege on pledges made before the last election.
A consultation document from Stormont in January made three mentions of water changes as a possible means of raising revenue. None of the mainstream parties has intervened to rule the possibility out.
In response, Communities Against the Water Tax (CAWT) has begun organising again.
No to the Reintroduction of Water Charges
The government suggests that the current water crisis was caused by wasteful householders running their water to prevent their pipes from freezing and irresponsibly not conserving water. However the authorities and engineers dealing with the water system have long flagged the perilous state of our infrastructure to the government, which they have consistently ignored.
Water Charges on the way back! Resist this Double Taxation!
Public Meeting Waterside Pub, Clondalkin 8pm, Mon 22nd February All welcome! Speakers: Cllr Gino Kenny, South Dublin County Council Cllr Brid Smith, Dublin City Council
GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE HAS CREATED CURRENT WATER CRISIS
The government are dishonestly suggesting that the current water crisis is purely the result of freak weather conditions or because of householders irresponsibly running taps. This is pure hypocrisy and dishonesty.
People Before Profit Councillors Condemn Council Decision To Sack Water and Flood Engineers
In a statement tonight People Before Profit Councillor Joan Collins condemned the decision of Dublin City Council to sack six engineers whose responsibilities include water and flood defence. With the backing of Councillor Brid Smyth a motion has been tabled for the next meeting of the Council calling for the decision to be reversed.
Waterford Crystal Workers at People Before Profit Meeting Ballyfermot against Dublin Bus cuts
On February 9th 2009, there was a local meeting to discuss the cuts to Dublin Bus services in Ballyfermot. It was organised by Bríd Smith,
Donnie Fell launches Waterford City South Local Election Campaign
Donie Fell, a Glass Blower for 38 years at Waterford Crystal and standing as a People Before Profit Alliance candidate in Waterford City South in
Glass worker to run in Waterford City South
Donie Fell, a Glass Blower for 38 years at Waterford Crystal will stand as a People Before Profit Alliance candidate in Waterford City South in the forthcoming local elections with the endorsement of UNITE the Union.
