Women 'warriors’ illegally taking apart water meters and posting their work online

The group have claimed they do not accept water meters

Women remove a water meter

 

A group of women have allegedly joined forces to illegally remove water meters.

A video shows them taking the hated items out of the ground in an unknown location.

The Women Water Warriors Facebook page already has hundreds of likes and appears to be gathering support.

The group, which only started on Thursday, have claimed they do not accept water meters.

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They posted along with the video, which has been liked almost 1,000 times in less than 12 hours: “We are a collective of women, coming together for civil disobedience, and direct action, in the removal of water meters, because we already pay for our water.

“We do not accept that 133 litres is in anyway whatsoever sufficient for a daily allowance.

“We refuse to stand by and allow our water become a commodity to be sold.

“The continuation of meter installation, confirms our belief, that every meter installed is a step closer to privatization.

“We have been betrayed by our elected representatives, with false promises.

“We will continue with the removal of meters, as our democratic right to to have a peoples referendum, to enshrine our water in our constitution is being denied to the people of Ireland.

“Let the people decide, give us our referendum. Women Water Warriors.”

People have commented on the video with their support.

One wrote: “Life is very short. Fair play to these women for doing something they believe in.

“I would rather tell my grand kids that I fought a worthy fight win or fail.”

While another said: “Agree 100% nobody should be made to pay for water, it is everyone’s right.”

Under the Water Services Act 2007, it is an offence to ‘remove, damage, or impair’ the proper working of a water meter.

 

Source: Irish Mirror April 20 2017

Irish Water is Labour's "biggest regret" while in Government says party leader Brendan Howlin

The Wexford TD took over as leader from Joan Burton after the party's electoral defeat in the 2016 general election

By James Ward, Jan 4 2017

Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin TD (Photo: Collins)

Irish Water is the Labour’s biggest regret from their time in Government party leader Brendan Howlin has revealed.

He now admits “we just should have said no” to the plan to set up the hated utility which has stumbled from one crisis to the next.

Mr Howlin is currently undertaking one of the largest rebuilding jobs in Labour history, having lost 30 seats in the 2016 election to leave them with just seven TDs.

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror, Mr Howlin has admitted that the issue would have been handled completely differently, were it not for the pressure being put on Government by the Troika.

He said: “We were under the cosh to build a huge utility like Irish Water. To get a national metering programme in place and charge for water in the space of three years, which we just should have said no to. I’m sorry we didn’t.

“Within Government, we certainly had that battle with Fine Gael. At a critical point, the decision we made was to stick with it as opposed to pulling down the Government at that stage.

“Because we were afraid of the consequences for our country if we pulled the Government down. But we paid too high a price for that and we should certainly have stood our ground in relation to Irish Water.”

This marks a significant turnaround for Labour, who repeatedly condemned the anti-water charges movement while in power.

Now Mr Howlin has admitted that the introduction of charges should have been handled much differently, and says they would have been had the Troika not been breathing down their necks.

Asked if introducing charges was the right thing to do, he replied: “No, not at the time. Not the way it was done.

“It think a much longer term approach should have been taken, and would have been taken had we not been under the cosh of the Troika.

Brendan Howlin & Labour TD Alan Kelly (Photo: Collins Photo Agency)

“It was one of the things that Fianna Fail had committed in the Troika deal in 2010.

“It was one of the things that, every month, the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF were insisting ‘where is your progress on this list of things?’

“This was one of the things we had to make progress on. Because they were signing off monthly on the paycheck for the nation, in order for us to pay pensions and pay the cost of wages and so on.

“Under normal circumstances, that should have been a ten year project. I certainly think it was handled badly.”

Labour has struggled badly since leaving office sitting at just 6% in the latest polls.

The savage austerity cuts of the last Government, and in particular, the introduction of water charges are seen as the main reasons for Labour’s demise.

 

Source: Irish Mirror, Jan 4 2017

Shock as Irish restaurants set to charge for TAP water

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 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.”