Ó Broin – I won’t be paying water charges Sinn Féin Clondalkin Councillor Eoin Ó Broin has said today that he won’t be paying water charges or returning his Irish Water pack by the October 31st deadline. Ó Broin described the charges as ‘deeply unfair’ and said that ‘they would have a devastating impact on families who are already struggling to survive.’ Ó Broin said: ‘On Saturday 100,000 people marched through the streets of Dublin against the water charges. This was the largest anti austerity demonstration we have seen since the start pf the crisis. ‘For some families the charge will be more than €500 per year. Last month a MABS report highlighted the fact that many struggling families have less than €8.75 a week in disposable income after paying essential bills. ‘How does the Government expect these people to afford water charges? ‘Even with the meager €100 allowance proposed in the budget hundreds of thousands of families will be unable to pay or forced to choose between paying for water, paying their rent or mortgage, heating their home or feeding their children. ‘With one in seven working families living at risk of poverty and 25% of households jobless the impact of these charges will be devastating. The result will be more child poverty, more household debt and more emotional stress. ‘Since the Irish Water packs started to arrive in people’s homes and the initial cost of the bills announced I have been inundated with people looking for information and advice. ‘I am not advising people what they should do. Each household needs to think very carefully before they decide and do what they believe is in the best interests of their families. ‘But given the sheer number of people who won’t be able to pay it is important that politicians opposed to the water tax stand with their communities. ‘Sinn Féin is totally opposed to the water charges. We have given a clear commitment that this will be a red line issue for us in any future Government. In the mean time we must all stand together and build the campaign to have this unjust tax withdrawn by Labour and Fine Gael.’ ENDS
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 13:47:08 +0000
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