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18/01/2016
Sinn Féin Call On Cork Residents To Support Right2Water Protest
A Right2Water demonstration planned for Saturday 23 January has been described as an "opportunity to tell Fine Gael and Labour that their time in Government is up".
Sinn Féin General Election candidate for Cork North Central, Councillor Thomas Gould, called on communities across the city to "come out in their droves" for Saturday's Right2Water demonstration.
"Minister Alan Kelly wants people to believe the water issue has gone away. That is nonsense. Water Charges and Irish Water are firmly on the agenda as we approach the General Election. I am urging people from every community, across Cork City, to come out in support of the Right2Water demonstration on Saturday," Cllr Gould said.
"Despite many national and local protests, over the last couple of years, the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government has refused to hear the overwhelming public opposition to Water Charges and Irish Water.
"They have failed to heed the anger of the people and this demonstration will provide an opportunity, for all those who have been ignored, to tell Fine Gael and Labour Party TDs on Leeside that their time in office is up.
"The government has failed to grasp the reality that a lot of people in Cork City do not have the money to pay water charges. The imposition of these charges was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"For many struggling families, it has come down to deciding which bill not to pay in order to put food on the table. Sadly, I don't think that government TDs in this City believe this to be the case.This is because they have been so insulated from the poverty and deprivation brought about by their policies.
"The establishment of Irish Water and the imposition of water charges has been a debacle from the start. Whether it has been in attending these marches or organising blockades of their housing estates, ordinary people and communities have played an extraordinary role in resisting the charges. The Right2Water movement has embodied a community spirit and resilience that has rocked this government."
He continued: "On Saturday, we have a chance to remind Fine Gael and the Labour Party that the introduction of Water Charges will come come back to haunt them at the ballot box.
"For our part, Sinn Féin believes that the right to water is one of the most basic of human rights. If elected to government, we will scrap water charges and abolish Irish Water. No ifs, buts or maybes.
"We already have the legislation drafted to follow through on this commitment. It is simple. A vote for Sinn Féin is a vote for ending Water Charges and Irish Water.
"In the immediate-term, only a change of government will see the scraping of water charges and the abolishment of Irish Water. I am urging people to protest as loudly as possible on Saturday but to be as determined to vote Fine Gael and the Labour Party out of office at the General Election."
(MH/JP)
Sinn Féin General Election candidate for Cork North Central, Councillor Thomas Gould, called on communities across the city to "come out in their droves" for Saturday's Right2Water demonstration.
"Minister Alan Kelly wants people to believe the water issue has gone away. That is nonsense. Water Charges and Irish Water are firmly on the agenda as we approach the General Election. I am urging people from every community, across Cork City, to come out in support of the Right2Water demonstration on Saturday," Cllr Gould said.
"Despite many national and local protests, over the last couple of years, the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government has refused to hear the overwhelming public opposition to Water Charges and Irish Water.
"They have failed to heed the anger of the people and this demonstration will provide an opportunity, for all those who have been ignored, to tell Fine Gael and Labour Party TDs on Leeside that their time in office is up.
"The government has failed to grasp the reality that a lot of people in Cork City do not have the money to pay water charges. The imposition of these charges was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"For many struggling families, it has come down to deciding which bill not to pay in order to put food on the table. Sadly, I don't think that government TDs in this City believe this to be the case.This is because they have been so insulated from the poverty and deprivation brought about by their policies.
"The establishment of Irish Water and the imposition of water charges has been a debacle from the start. Whether it has been in attending these marches or organising blockades of their housing estates, ordinary people and communities have played an extraordinary role in resisting the charges. The Right2Water movement has embodied a community spirit and resilience that has rocked this government."
He continued: "On Saturday, we have a chance to remind Fine Gael and the Labour Party that the introduction of Water Charges will come come back to haunt them at the ballot box.
"For our part, Sinn Féin believes that the right to water is one of the most basic of human rights. If elected to government, we will scrap water charges and abolish Irish Water. No ifs, buts or maybes.
"We already have the legislation drafted to follow through on this commitment. It is simple. A vote for Sinn Féin is a vote for ending Water Charges and Irish Water.
"In the immediate-term, only a change of government will see the scraping of water charges and the abolishment of Irish Water. I am urging people to protest as loudly as possible on Saturday but to be as determined to vote Fine Gael and the Labour Party out of office at the General Election."
(MH/JP)
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30 March 2016
EU Water Framework Directive Will Not Force Water Charges - FF
The proposed EU Water Framework Directive will not force any new government to retain water charges, Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Sean Fleming, has said. Deputy Fleming has said that the 'polluter pays' principal in the directive does not bind Ireland to the imposition of domestic water charges.
EU Water Framework Directive Will Not Force Water Charges - FF
The proposed EU Water Framework Directive will not force any new government to retain water charges, Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Sean Fleming, has said. Deputy Fleming has said that the 'polluter pays' principal in the directive does not bind Ireland to the imposition of domestic water charges.
28 July 2015
Eurostat Report 'Major Blow' To Government
Reports that Eurostat rejected a plan to keep Irish Water "off balance sheet", has been described as a "major blow" to the government. Sinn Féin finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty, made the comments, and added that the government’s argument against his party's plan to abolish Irish Water was now gone.
Eurostat Report 'Major Blow' To Government
Reports that Eurostat rejected a plan to keep Irish Water "off balance sheet", has been described as a "major blow" to the government. Sinn Féin finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty, made the comments, and added that the government’s argument against his party's plan to abolish Irish Water was now gone.
25 August 2015
TEEU Calls For Govt To Abolish Water Charges
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) is calling on the Government to abolish water charges with immediate effect. The union made the call after it revealed it had joined the Right2Water Campaign.
TEEU Calls For Govt To Abolish Water Charges
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) is calling on the Government to abolish water charges with immediate effect. The union made the call after it revealed it had joined the Right2Water Campaign.
14 January 2015
More Than Half Of Irish Water Customers Now Registered
More than half of Irish Water customers have been registered to date, the company confirmed. Some 760,500 households, or 56.3%, of those eligible for water charges are now registered.
More Than Half Of Irish Water Customers Now Registered
More than half of Irish Water customers have been registered to date, the company confirmed. Some 760,500 households, or 56.3%, of those eligible for water charges are now registered.
20 October 2014
Irish Water 'Not FIt For Purpose'
Irish Water is "not fit for the purpose of serving the interests of ordinary citizens", Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald has said. The Deputy Leader and party spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform has called again for the scrapping of water charges, saying that the government's management of the company has seen a "litany of debacles".
Irish Water 'Not FIt For Purpose'
Irish Water is "not fit for the purpose of serving the interests of ordinary citizens", Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald has said. The Deputy Leader and party spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform has called again for the scrapping of water charges, saying that the government's management of the company has seen a "litany of debacles".
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