We need to save water before we tax it

I APPEAL to Fine Gael and Labour to rebuff the approaches being made by a desperate Government to provide cover for their disastrous mishandling of the economy?

The budget deficit, caused by the failure of successive Fianna Fáil-led governments to implement a fair, progressive tax system simply can’t be reduced to 3% by 2014 without decimating our economy and society.

The latest kite being flown to raise funds is charging for water. Since hardly any meters are installed, this is likely to be a flat charge of several hundred euro per year. Such a tax is very regressive as it hits the least well off proportionally much harder.