Siptu backs mass rally against water charges

The largest trade union in the country has backed next week’s mass rally against water charges as protesters vow to bring the capital to a standstill with their opposition to the levy.

SIPTU said yesterday it had taken the decision to officially back the campaign against charges after the Government had failed to answer its calls for only non-essential water usage to be taxed.

The decision came as TDs finished a two-day debate in the Dáil on the Coalition’s revised charging regime which will see families pay a maximum of €160 a year or €3 a week until 2019.

SIPTU said yesterday it would join other trade unions opposing the charge. It said it was now encouraging some of its 160,000 paid up members to participate in Wednesday’s protest at Merrion Square, Dublin.

Junior environment minister Paudie Coffey yesterday defended the new charges and also said international research had shown that water usage reduced by up to 15% with the use of meters in homes.

He also appealed to all households getting the annual €100 grant for charges to spend this on water usage or conservation equipment and devices.

But a Labour TD highlighted the ongoing difficulty households have had in contacting Irish Water. Robert Dowds said the water meter of a constituent of his in Palmerstown showed he had used nearly half a million litres over four weeks, but it took three months to get the company to respond to the matter.

“The trouble to get Irish Water to deal with that issue was immense,” said the Dublin Mid-West TD.

Independent TD Mick Wallace reiterated that the semi-state company was a “dysfunctional monster”.

The Wexford TD pointed out that there was no element of fairness in the new charges.

“Everyone pays the same amount irrespective of ability to pay,” he said.

Socialist TD Joe Higgins said that if next week’s protest did not convince the Coalition to abolish charges that next April would when he claimed there would be massive boycott when bills arrive.

An opinion poll yesterday showed that a third of people intend not to pay their charges, despite the revised payment scheme.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Dublin protest next week as well as a Sinn Féin move to debate the issue of confidence in the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny has insisted he will lead his party into the next general election.

Following a further dip in support for his party this week, Mr Kenny also maintained that he was not expecting a challenge to his leadership ahead of the next general election.