Up to 100,000 from every corner of Ireland marched through the streets of Dublin yesterday (29 August) to express their anger at the government over the imposition of water charges and the privatisation agenda. Irish people already pay for their water and through taxes and there has been a huge campaign against the new water charges and introduction of water metering which many people believe is a prelude to the privatisation of the water service.
The rally was organised by the Right 2 Water campaign, an umbrella body made up by three pillars of trade unions, community and political groups and to which the Workers’ Party is affiliated.
A new company called Irish Water Ltd was created by the Fine Gael / Labour coalition government to take the running of the water and sanitary services away from local government. Irish Water has become hated and many hundreds of communities have rallied to resist the installation of water meters and a highly successful non-payment campaign has stood firm in the face of government threats and heavy-handed policing.
The Workers’ Party has a long record of opposition to double-taxation since water charges were first tried over 30 years ago and defeated by public activism.
Earlier this year, the Workers’ Party made a submission to the Right 2 Water campaign which has organised several very large national demonstrations against the water charges. You can view or download the party’s submission by clicking on this link: – Workers Party R2W Submission.
Workers Party Councillor Éilis Ryan
Councillor Ted Tynan, Workers Party, Cork City
Workers Party Ballyfermot (Dublin)
Workers’ Party Dublin City banner