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27 August 2015

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Fine Gael and Labour Government doing everything to deflect from Irish Water fiasco

Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy, People Before Profit Alliance Councillor Bríd Smith and Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty show their support for Saturday's Right2Water rally in Dublin

THE Government is doing everything it can to deflect media coverage from the ongoing water charges fiasco, says Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty.

Speaking at a press conference in Buswells Hotel in Dublin alongside representatives from the Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit, the Donegal TD called for a huge turnout at the Right2Water demonstration this Saturday in Dublin:

"Irish Water has been a disaster from the outset. It is time that we galvanise all those who are fed up of the absolute black-hole waste of resources and ask the government en masse to scrap these unfair charges once and for all. The Government are under huge pressure on this issue," he said.Pearse DOherty media scrum

Accusing the Fine Gael and Labour parties of doing everything they can to deflect from the real issues, Pearse Doherty said:

"They know that the majority of people have not signed up to Irish Water, between those who can’t pay and those who won’t pay. How can they expect Irish citizens to support a body such as Irish Water, which from its very outset has been mired by scandal and mismanagement? Its failure of the Eurostat test is yet more evidence that the Irish Water model does not work, and will not work."

In Government, Sinn Féin will abolish water charges, retain water services in public ownership and establish a new model of governance with democratic control, accountability and transparency, the party's Finance Spokesperson said.

"Water is a key public asset and it is also a human right and our water services must be organised with the greatest efficiency for the benefit of all our citizens."

  • The Right2Water marches will depart from Connolly and Heuston train stations in Dublin on Saturday 29 August at 2pm and march to the GPO on O'Connell Street

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