BY C.J.MCGINLEY
CAMPAIGN groups in Donegal are organising for a series of demonstrations against water charges.
Buoyed by the turnout of up to 100,000 people at a protest rally in Dublin on Saturday, anti-austerity groups are planning demonstrations across Donegal on November 1.
Following the election at the weekend of of Anti-Austerity Alliance Candidates Paul Murphy in Dublin South West and Michael Fitzmaurice in Roscommon/South Leitrim, opponents of the water charges are stepping up their campaign. New research by Irish Water has found that one in five households are unlikely to pay their water charges when bills land in January.
Owen Curran from Falcarragh, who is an anti-austerity spokesman in the county said the turnout at the rally in Dublin and election victories in the by-elections showed the government and other political parties had underestimated ‘the anger and determination among people to fight the water charges’.
“Putting aside Irish Water spin- the reality is bills in excess of €500 euro a year for most families and many people will simply not be able to afford the water tax.
“Without an organised campaign they will be left isolated in their act of non payment. We have to build non payment into a part of something big and organised. This is how the water charges were beaten in the 1990’s.
“The campaign needs to be sustained through 2015, right up to the next general election and responding to any threat of court action. That sort of campaign will put all parties under massive pressure to abolish this unjust charge,” Mr Curran said.
“Saturday’s demonstration was uplifting , but it cannot just be a one off. That is why that campaign groups throughout the country including Donegal are now organising for local demonstrations on Saturday November the 1st.
“If anyone wants to discuss further how we build the type of campaign that will lead to the eventual abolition of Water Charges join us on Friday (October 17) in Ostan Loch Altan at 8 p.m. where Mick Murphy of the Anti Austerity Alliance and a veteran of the successful anti -water charges campaign in the 1990 ‘s will lead the discussion,” he added.
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