Softer stance on Irish Water bill defaulters

People who refuse to pay their Irish Water bills will not be brought to court until their debt reaches at least €500, effectively delaying any cases until 2017 — long after the general election.

New Government legislation has also specifically ruled out the previous threat of jail for anyone who refuses to pay the controversial charge in a bid to entice people to register.

Under the Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill, published yesterday by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, anyone who has a €500-€4,000 debt for a provided service such as Irish Water can be forced to pay the sum through a salary or social welfare attachment order.

However, this order can only be put in place after a district court application, and after the debt reaches €500 — a rate that, given the €260 annual water charge, will take until late 2016 to occur. It effectively means any court cases involving those who refuse to pay will not take place until early 2017, with a backlog due to any mass boycott pushing the date back further.

Coupled with the fact that the same legislation also states no one will be sent to prison for failing or refusing to pay the fees, anti-water charge campaigners have claimed people have nothing to fear from non-compliance.

“The bill can’t bring hundreds of thousands of non-payers through the courts, as each case must be individually heard and their finances assessed,” Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger said at a press conference to launch a major protest at 6pm outside the Dáil yesterday. “No debts below €500 means no cases until 2017.”

Don't miss this important protest Wednesday 6pm @ the Dáil organised by the Non Payment Network #OXI pic.twitter.com/jcoRRR0m7d

— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) June 29, 2015

The new penalties “don’t amount to a hill of beans”, she added.

Ms Fitzgerald said the new rules — which also relate to other debts that are unrelated to Irish Water — are “balanced measures” which take account of those genuinely unable to pay for water.

She said the bill “expands the current range of debt enforcement measures” which will “compel payment by ‘won’t pay’ debtors who knowingly refuse to pay their obligations”, adding that “at the same time, the intention to abolish imprisonment is an important milestone”.

Yesterday saw the latest cut-off point for customers to sign up for a €100 “conservation” grant, rewarding them for registering, following previous October, November, and February deadlines. Irish Water’s board met yesterday to discuss how many of its 1.32m registered users intend to pay.

Over the next 48 hours, 22 Irish Water amendments drawn up by Government will be put before the Dáil via the Environment Miscellaneous Provisions Bill.

The changes include obliging landlords to provide information on tenants to Irish Water.

They also include barring home owners from selling property unless their water bills are up to date.

The decision to outline the amendments in the miscellaneous bill — which also covers dog racing and Killarney National Park — sparked anger yesterday, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin saying it was “jack boots” politics and Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams saying it contradicted the 2011 “democratic revolution”: “Democratic revolution? Democratic revolution my arse,” he said.