Non-payment of water charges will just force more debt on people

It was reported thatattempts are being made to split the Right2Water campaign, if this is true, and many say it is not, it would be disturbing as Right2Water is the only social movement capable of effecting real change in Ireland.

The Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers’ Party have never made a dent in Irish politics.

As someone who vehemently opposes water charges and the privatisation of our public water services, I would like to make a few comments on “non-payment”.

The Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers’ Party (AKA, the We Won’t Pay/Non-Payment Network) contend that non-payment will “bring down” Irish Water. Firstly, the Government wants to borrow monies “off the books” for Irish Water, and place even more debt on our shoulders. To do that, Irish Water needs to secure over 51% of revenue from charges, or it will not pass the Eurostat market corporation test. If 30% of families pay, that leaves 70% to collect. One option the Government has is to sell the domestic debt to collection agencies. Hypothetically, they could sell that debt for 50% of its value; 30% plus 35% equals 65%, which brings Irish Water over the line on the market corporation test.

There are intelligent people controlling the Marxist parties, so why are they misinforming the public on this matter?

Secondly, on the privatisation issue.

Globally, the private, for-profit water industry is worth $500m annually. Ireland is set to become 11% wetter over the next ten years, while many parts of the world are heading into catastrophic water crises. Ireland is an attractive place for water companies to do business. If no revenue was collected by Irish Water, I believe it could be sold off to one of the multinational water companies, like Thames Water or Voelia, as a bankrupt entity.

In my opinion, “non-payment” will neither prevent more debt being piled on the Irish people, nor prevent the privatisation of our water and waste water services.

Podemos and Syriza are offering a balanced alternative to the extremist right or left in Spain and Greece, and spreading a message of hope and the possibility of a better society.

Millions have come out in support of the balanced message of both those social movements.

The Right2Water campaign has given a voice to hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland and it has evolved into the most powerful social movement that I am likely to see in my lifetime. Families, pensioners, teenagers, workers, the unemployed, etc, have all been united by it. United and supported by hundreds of community groups, five trade unions and some progressive politicians.

Together, we are out on the streets saying ‘no’. ‘No’ to the privatisation of our human right to water.

‘No’ to our families being made homeless at the behest of the banks. ‘

No’ to the export of our children.

‘No’ to cuts in health and education. ‘No’ to corruption, cronyism, and the list goes on an on.

And just like other movements in Europe, Right2Water has created a spark of hope, a spark of possibility of a better, fairer, more equal society.

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Noreen Murphy

Ballyvolane

Cork