Ireland Still Protesting Water Meters

Privatization of Water, Water Metering and New Pricing Creating Political Furor in Ireland

Ireland is in the midst of a massive revolt against its government's attempts to slap water charges on the Irish people. On October 11, at least 100,000 marched in Dublin to protest against this regressive tax. On November 1, a total of some 200,000 marched in over one hundred protests throughout Ireland.

As the new water utility, Irish Water, attempts to install water meters, it has been met with resistance on several estates. The Gardai have been Irish Water's loyal protectors attacking and arresting protesters. Protests are flaring up on a regular basis. Over a million people have not returned their registration/application packs.

The coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party has been rocked by this crisis. A recent opinion poll puts FG down to 22 percent and Labour reaching the pits at 7 percent. In contrast, Sinn Fein, which claims to be against the water charges, is now heading the polls with 26 percent.

In the recent by election in Dublin South West, Sinn Fein were favourites to win the seat but threw away the opportunity when their leaders, Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald, despite their anti charges rhetoric, said they would be paying their water tax. The Anti Austerity Alliance (a campaign initiated by the Socialist Party) candidate had a much clearer message of refusing to pay and consequently won a stunning victory.

The scale of the rebellion has taken everyone by surprise. Yet six years of unrelenting austerity without any sustained protest action combined with a government narrative that tells us the economy is recovering was bound to lead to a snapping point.

Source: League for The Fifth International

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1. The latest protest http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/some-500-people-march-against-water-charges-in-cork-1.2140473