NI politicians urged to pledge water-charges axe

Political parties in the North were today challenged to commit themselves to an Assembly election pledge to repeal the water charges law once devolution returns.

Alliance Assembly Member Kieran McCarthy issued the challenge as the parties prepared for a possible Stormont election on March 7 and for the introduction of the charges in April.

The Strangford MLA said: “In the Assembly in December, I threw down the gauntlet to other parties to repeal water charges as soon as an executive is formed.

“I now want to challenge all of the other parties to make scrapping tap tax one of their election pledges.

“All parties must make it clear that this will be the first priority of the next executive.

“We will scrap tap tax but I am unsure as to whether other parties will have the courage to make this pledge and follow it through.”

Unionist, nationalist and cross-community politicians have been critical of the British government’s plans to introduce water charges in April, phasing them in to their full level by 2009.

Along with trade unionists, MLAs have claimed the introduction of the charges and the recent rises in domestic rates bills will push more vulnerable sections of society into poverty.

Mr McCarthy argued the charges were unfair and would hit those on low incomes as well as the elderly.

“It is a blunt instrument, which is being forced on us by direct rule dictators, and it must be binned at the first possible opportunity by the next executive,” he insisted.

“It’s because of the amount of cash wasted on segregation that local infrastructure needs so much investment.

“Our water and sewage network has been neglected for decades as billions were pumped into providing segregated services in Northern Ireland.”