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<TD>Date: Thursday, Apr 6 2017, 2:04pm<BR>
Full event listing at <a href="http://www.indymedia.ie/events">www.indymedia.ie/events</a><BR></TD>
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<H2><a href="http://www.indymedia.ie/article/106118">National Demonstration against water charges on Saturday, 8th April 2017</a></H2>
Dublin | Bin Tax / Household Tax / Water Tax | By r2w Right2Water <h4>Event Time: Saturday, Apr 8 2017</h4>
<P>WATER CHARGES AREN’T GONE…YET. WE NEED ONE MORE PUSH TO END THEM<br />
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Water Charges haven’t gone away. Fine Gael are still trying to get them in through the back door.<br />
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A special Oireachtas Committee has been meeting since December. It must report to Government by April 14. Its recommendations will decide whether water charges are scrapped or retained.<br />
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Fine Gael are proposing a charge for so called wilful waste of water. This would mean water meters in every house and a billing system just like water charges.</P><P><strong>THIS IS A TROJAN HORSE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF WATER CHARGES AND MUST BE OPPOSED.</strong><br />
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If Fine Gael get their way what starts as a charge for so called wilful waste will soon become a charge for normal use. <br />
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Right2Water has five TDs in the Committee arguing for an end to charges, an end to metering and they have already endorsed a referendum to enshrine the public ownership of water in the Constitution, but it is still not over the line yet.<br />
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The strength of these TDs in the Committee is determined by the strength of the Right2Water movement on the streets.<br />
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On April 8th we need to show the other members of the Committee, and in particular Fianna Fáil that this issue hasn't gone away.<br />
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We expect all parties who promised to scrap water charges during the 2016 general election to keep their word. <br />
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<strong>STOP THE WASTE</strong><br />
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While 47% of our water is leaked through holes in the pipes, instead of investing in fixing the infrastructure, Fine Gael have spent €1bn of your money on Irish Water and a useless metering programme. Now they want to spend another €300m on metering for an ‘excess use’ that the Expert Commission on Water says doesn’t exist. It’s simple; stop the waste and fix the leaks.<br />
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No more excuses - water charges must be scrapped now!<br />
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So we need one more push to get this over the line. If you want water charges scrapped once and for all, and a referendum to enshrine the ownership of public water and sanitation services in our constitution then join us at 2pm in Dublin on Saturday April 8th.<br />
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Assembly points: Connolly Station and Heuston Station at 2pm on Saturday, 8th April 2017.<br />
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<p><small>posted on: Wednesday, Apr 5 2017, 10:17pm</small></p>
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