The Workers’ Party have called on the leadership of the Right2Water campaign to organise a further national rally against the water charges in order to increase the pressure on political parties and deputies who had been elected on a mandate to abolish water charges and Irish Water to keep those promises.

Workers’ Party spokesperson Seamus McDonagh said that a clear majority of Dáil deputies elected on February 26th had stood on a water charges and Irish Water abolition stance.  However as the wheeling and dealing over who would form the next government has continued there are signs that these deputies are wavering on their commitment and have their eyes on the prize of power rather than on achieving the aims they committed to in relation to water charges.

Mr. McDonagh said that what were red line issues for several parties and many independent deputies during the election campaign have gradually faded. “While it is clear that the parties of the right are still in the driving seat their potential passengers must decide whether they are going to stand by their solemn promises on which they were elected.”

“The Workers’ Party believes that the broader anti-water charges movement needs to give these parties and deputies a sharp nudge to remind them of their commitments. A major rally in the capital or in the regional centres would be useful at this time and we are therefore calling on the Right2Water to mobilise such a march”, said Seamus McDonagh