Water charges won’t be reintroduced according to the Government.
Both the Taoiseach and the Environment Minister have ruled it out.
That was following suggestions they are needed for environmental reasons.
People will have seen on Reeling in the Years 2014 last night the massive movement which defeated water charges then.
It should stand as a reminder to the government: Any attempt to re-introduce water charges would be met by massive public opposition & non-payment.#wewontpay
— Paul Murphy (@paulmurphy_TD) May 10, 2021
Environmental Worries Have Charges Back In The News
In 2014 tens of thousands of people took to the streets when the then Government planned to introduce the bills.
The plans later had to be abandoned following the public backlash.
Now the OECD says the issues needs to be looked at again.
Fees are needed the organisation suggests to improve investment in the country’s water supply and sanitation.
But it seems there’s absolutely no appetite in Government for this to happen.
Both the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Environment Minister Eamon Ryan have ruled it out.
(MM): "No we won't be going back to that."
"We won't be re-introducing water charges."
(ER): "We will not be going back to the water charges issue."
I will never understand the anger people had towards water charges. Never. https://t.co/ToI0MqwRJB
— Ray Minehane (@RayMinehane) May 11, 2021
Irish Water Needs The Money
But Professor John Fitzgerald from Trinity College says at some stage water charges will have to be considered
"The issue with water is: A, if you charge then people won't waste water, which is really important."
"But it would also gives a flow of income to Irish Water so it can do it's job properly, which it's not able to do at the moment."
For now the Government seem eager to avoid any mention even of water charges.
However the issue of how Ireland uses its water supplies isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
