Councillor Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig of Can’t Pay Won’t Pay has called on householders in Donegal not to return the Application Packs currently being sent out by Irish Water to assess Water Charge levels.
Councillor Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig
The West Donegal-based county councillor says it could be the first step in building a boycott of the charges.
“Every day I am hearing from people who are struggling to get by and are extremely worried at this latest bill they will have to find the money for. My message to them is that I will not give a cent to Irish Water and I advise them to do the same,” he said.
“There is enormous anger at the introduction of these charges and I am struck by the number of people who have contacted me to say they will not pay them. I believe that Irish Water and the government are in for a huge shock when they discover the level of resistance there exists to these charges and I believe it is possible we can defeat them by not paying what is effectively double taxation.”
Councillor Mac Giolla Easbuig says his other concern is that Irish Water is a halfway house for privatisation of our water supply.
“Water is a precious natural resource. It is too important to be treated as a commodity to be bought and sold for profit. Our water supply must remain in public hands and I am believe this will not happen under Irish Water. The whole rationale of introducing charges is to create a profitable business which can be sold to corporate interests.”
“As a first step I am saying to householders, bin the Application Pack from Irish Water. Do not give them your PPSN numbers. Don’t make their job any easier in trying to assess charging levels. You will not be alone in doing this. I and thousands of others will do the same. Whatever they decide to levy on us we will not pay it and we will stand together against any attempts to force us. A widespread boycott will throw the system into chaos.”
“We have yet to see installation of water meters in the county, but it appears to be not far off. Can’t Pay Won’t Pay will offer their full support to any community which is organised and resists the installation of meters or any organised community that needs assistance in removing any meters installed. We believe that acts of civil disobedience are fully justified in resisting the attempt to turn our water supply into a profit supply.”
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