Sinn Féin spokesperson on
environment, community and local government, Brian Stanley TD, has today warned
that: “Government proposals will have the poor reduced to a trickle of water.”
Responding to reports that the
government has agreed new legislation that allows Irish Water to reduce water
pressure to people’s homes, Brian Stanley said:
“The government’s Water
Services (2) Bill allows for water pressure to be reduced to a trickle to
householders who fail to pay their water rates. This is unacceptable. Water is
a basic human right. To threaten families with reducing their water is bullyboy
tactics. In a cynical move, the government are holding off on issuing bills
till 2015, after next year’s local elections.
“We also understand that this Bill
will transfer all water service assets from local authorities to Irish Water at
no cost to Irish Water. This is despite the public having paid for these assets
in their taxes. This asset stripping is setting the scene for the full
privatisation of water.
“At a time when families are struggling they will be
hit with another bill.
In Denmark with a population similar
to our own, water metering is in place and in 2007 the average cost was €715
per household. The current proposal to install water meters and charge
household for water was dreamt up by Fianna Fail, and brought to life by Fine
Gael and supported by the Labour Party.
“Sinn Féin supports the introduction of
district metering as opposed to installing domestic water meters in every
household. It is cheaper, more effective and already operates in successfully in
Laois.
“Water charges will mean the public pay three times for the water they
drink. Firstly in their general taxes, secondly through this new charge and
finally they will pay through the National Pension Reserve Fund which is being
used to fund the installation of water meters. Local Authority Professional
Officers have given estimates of €1.2 billion to cover the cost of the
installation. It is ordinary householders will be footing the bill.
“Sinn Féin is committed to opposing
the installation of domestic water meters and the introduction of domestic
water charges. We will continue to work with trade unions and residents to
derail this process.”
Sinn Féin Mountmellick-Working For The Community
On 28 July 2010, through Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognised the human right to water and sanitation and acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realisation of all human rights. The Resolution calls upon States and international organisations to provide financial resources, help capacity-building and technology transfer to help countries, in particular developing countries, to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all.
ReplyDeleteThe human right to water places certain responsibilities upon governments to ensure that people can enjoy "sufficient, safe, accessible and affordable water, without discrimination" (cf. GC 15, below). Most especially, governments are expected to take reasonable steps to avoid a contaminated water supply and to ensure there are no water access distinctions amongst citizens.
And the people of Mountmellick will pay a fourth time as they are buying bottled water because their tap water is of an unacceptable quality!
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