Shock as Irish restaurants set to charge for TAP water

November 7, 2015

Source: Irish Mirror Nov 7, 2015 by Blanaid Murphy

Food industry sources said eateries nationwide are facing rate hikes and punters will end up forking out as a result

Restaurants are set to start charging for water

Restaurants are set to start billing customers for tap water, the Irish Mirror has learned.

Food industry sources said eateries nationwide are facing rate hikes and punters will end up forking out as a result.

Irish Water confirmed talks are set to begin next week about tariffs for businesses.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland spokesman Adrian Cummins said: “Some restaurants will charge for tap water if commercial water charges increase.

“I would say over 50% will implement the practice.

“Some charge €1 for a large jug or bottle of [tap] water, which is unlimited during the course of the meal.”

Restaurants and pubs have been paying water charges to local authorities for years.

However, since the establishment of Irish Water non-domestic clients are billed on behalf of the hated utility company.

A food industry source revealed: “We have been told by Irish Water to expect increases.

“There are more than 50 different charges in different locations, so one county might have a higher charge than another.”

Irish Water said a consultation process is set to start next week with the regulator but it could take some time before any hikes come into effect.

Spokeswoman Florence White added: “The Commission for Energy Regulation will shortly begin a process to define and agree the appropriate and enduring tariff arrangements for non-domestic customers of Irish Water in the future.”

However, Michael Kilcoyne from the Consumers’ Association of Ireland said being billed for tap water is not going to wash with diners.

He added: “I don’t think it would go down very well. It would be like charging customers for napkins.

“I’d think twice about charging for tap water.”

Anti Austerity Alliance Accuses Right2Change of falsifying and misrepresenting them

November 6, 2015

Paul Murphy TD

The AAA was shocked that Right2Change (R2C) misrepresented and falsified the views of the AAA regarding the R2C questions at the Community Pillar meeting on Saturday 31 October. R2C added the word ‘No’ to the start of our answers to questions one and two. We did not say ‘No’!

To anyone at the meeting reading the text on the screen, they would have been led to believe that the AAA actually said 'No' to questions one and two. When Brendan Ogle spoke when presenting the answers, he even said the word ‘No’, as if it was part of our answer.

Regarding question two, we outlined what type of government we would be part of and what type we wouldn't. R2C interpreted that as a 'No' to their question, but they had no right to put ‘No’ into our text. However, R2C cannot state or interpret that the AAA said 'No' to question one – the R2C principles – that is completely incorrect.

Any reasonable interpretation would easily conclude that we said Yes to question one, with some qualifications. We believe, the first line in our answer, "The AAA generally supports the reforms outlined in the policy principles", makes this clear enough, so we endorsed the R2C principles and remain part of that aspect of R2C.

We can only draw the conclusion that this falsification of our answers was done consciously. This approach is disgraceful and alien to the traditions of the labour movement. It is very regrettable and is grossly unfair and undemocratic. The AAA has written to the R2C trade unions with regard to this, but we need to set the record straight and these photo's prove our point.

Brendan Ogle speaking at the Right2Change Community pillar meeting at Wynn's Hotel in Dublin City Center . Discussing the parties and independent TD's who are in favor of endorsing the policy document set about by Right2Change

Buncrana Together

Buncrana Together would like to put it on record that we believe the insertion of 'No' is completely wrong. It is deliberate manipulation of fact. Both the literature and the accompanying Youtube video entitled 'Part2 of Brendan Ogle speaking at the community pillar meeting in Wynn's Hotel Dublin City Centre 31/10/2015' verify this. An immediate retraction and apology is necessary.

Clare Daly and Mick Wallace Standing as Independents and Statement in relation to Right2Change

November 5, 2015

Source: http://claredaly.ie/statement-in-relation-to-right2change/

The magnificent movement of people power which exploded onto the streets across the length and breath of the country in opposition to Irish Water & water charges was an important development in our recent history. It channeled the anger and betrayal felt by citizens after years of neo-liberal policies and austerity budgets, the decimation of public services, & a race to the bottom in wages and conditions. It brought thousands of people into political activity for the first time. It showed that no government can rule without the will of the people, and that protest action can pay.

Against this background we believe that the initiative of the Right2Water unions to try and harness this movement, beyond protests, into a movement for change, was the correct one. We have committed to supporting the policy positions of Right2Change, as a starting point in dismantling the prevailing ideology of the establishment parties who have slavishly implemented economic policies at the behest of the markets.

We believe that society can be organised in a different way, a better way, where the interests of the people are centre stage – the right to housing, a job with decent pay and conditions, access to healthcare when you’re sick, and a pension when you retire. These demands are the bare minimum in a country which has seen the wealth of the top 300 citizens increase by €13.5 billion in the last year alone.

Across our society there is a desperate yearning for change as the parties that have been in power have misused it and a different type of politics must be built. We have pledged to play a part in delivering that, by committing to work with any other parties or individuals who are prepared to break with neo-liberalism, including forming a government, should the numbers allow. We are very clear that we will not play a part in any government with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or Labour.

The role of the the media, & some of the political parties involved, in how the Right2Change initiative has been portrayed over the past week is a stark warning to activists in the communities and unions. The Establishment has a vested interest in trying to undermine this project. They will seek to exaggerate division, to portray chaos and incoherence & to misrepresent what is being attempted. This is a sign of their fear but we must not fall for it.

It must also be said that the opportunism of some of the groupings involved, who diverted this project into a dialogue about voting pacts & transfers, and whether they would or wouldn’t be calling for transfers for each other is regrettable. Electoral pacts were never part of any discussions. It will do nothing for the cause if some groups are prepared to put their own party interests, ahead of those of the general movement .That is why we are contesting this election as independents & will work with other like mined individuals to build the type of grass roots, bottom up politics, that bases itself on empowering people to organise for themselves. This is essential if we are to deliver the change that Ireland deserves & yearns on the eve of the 1916 centenary.

Clare Daly & Mick Wallace
Nov 5, 2015