Dublin: Socialist TD calls for water tax boycott

The newly elected TD for Dublin West has claimed her victory in the by-election, combined with a strong showing by left-wing candidates in the European and local elections, will cause damage to the Government.

Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party said her election would add further pressure on the Coalition’s efforts to impose water charges — an issue she stressed was a major concern for voters on the doorsteps.

In the wake of her victory and dismal performances by Fine Gael and Labour in the by-election, Ms Coppinger called for a mass campaign of non-payment against water charges when the first bills are issued next year.

She claimed the 40% share of votes in all elections for anti-austerity candidates had weakened attempts by Fine Gael “to foist water charges on an electorate who is clearly fed up to the back teeth with paying for this crisis”.

“It’s a huge reflection of how fed up people are,” said Ms Coppinger, a secondary school teacher.

The pre-election favourite to take the seat following the resignation of former Labour representative Patrick Nulty, Ms Coppinger survived an early shock to secure her election on the sixth and final count without reaching the quota.

Socialist Party supporters were concerned after the Sinn Féin candidate, Paul Donnelly, surprisingly topped the poll with 6,056 first-preference votes — 79 ahead of Coppinger.

However, by the third count, which saw the elimination of Labour’s Lorraine Mulligan and the Green Party’s Roderic O’Gorman, Ms Coppinger had edged ahead of her rival by more than 300 votes, ultimately winning with a margin of over 3,000 to spare.

Mr Donnelly’s hopes of a surprise victory were dashed when weaker transfers for Sinn Féin saw him overtaken by Fianna Fáil’s David McGuinness.

Ms Coppinger’s election doubles the Socialist Party’s representation in the Dáil where she will join party leader and constituency colleague Joe Higgins, who has already announced he will not contest the next general election.

All three leading candidates — Ms Coppinger, Mr McGuinness and Mr Donnelly — were also elected on the first count for the Mulhuddart area to Fingal County Council. Mr Higgins said the Socialist Party would decide in due course who will be co-opted to take Ms Coppinger’s seat.

The by-election provided little comfort for the government parties, with Fine Gael’s Eamonn Coghlan finishing fifth, behind independent candidate David Hall, a campaigner for homeowners in mortgage arrears. He signalled his interest in contesting the next general election in Dublin West.

The result was even worse for Labour whose Lorraine Mulligan came seventh out of a field of 10, with just over 5% of the vote.

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