Labour should pull the plug on water charges, says Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Labour and Fine Gael will come after the water charges money by whatever means necessary, even if families are struggling’

THE Labour Party has been panned for its failure to oppose water charges in legislation being pushed through the Dáil this week by the Fine Gael/Labour Government.

He said he is “amazed” that Labour TDs and senators will allow this “extra tax on hard-pressed households.

“The Government is pretending that the Water Services Bill is about water conservation measures but, when pressed on the issue in the Seanad, Fine Gael Minister Fergus O’Dowd said that he has no intention of introducing grant aid for families to put in place remedial measures such as rainwater harvesting systems, dual flush cisterns and auto-stop taps to help reduce the amounts of water they use.

“The Minister is refusing to say what free allocation households will be given, how much people will pay and they are also adamant that inability to pay will be no excuse for non-payment.

“Labour and Fine Gael will come after the water charges money by whatever means necessary, even if families are struggling.”

The Sinn Féin senator added:

“It is disgraceful that the Labour Party are practically silent in the debate when they should be supporting our calls for a total rethink of this regressive and badly-thought-out legislation.”