Fine Gael TD, Simon Coveney’s admission that the party is willing “to talk about water” is a testament to the strength of the water charges movement says Workers’ Party, Dublin North-West representative Jimmy Dignam.Dignam stated: “The incoming government has absolutely no mandate for the further implementation of water charges. Fine Gael’s apparent u-turn on Irish Water is no surprise with a majority of votes cast being for “anti-water” candidates.
Dignam continued: “Fine Fáil’s complete populist hypocrisy in calling for the scrapping of Irish Water prior to the election, was due to the over 50% of people still refusing to pay this unfair and regressive stealth tax. Many of us within the water charges movement have stated that with non-payment remaining so high, it was simply unworkable for Irish Water to continue as a going entity.”
Dignam concluded: “This potential reverse in policy from the two main right-wing establishment parties is proof that people power can win. When communities and work places organise and fightback, their combined strength can have a serious impact on the direction that our country takes.”