Charging Ahead

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Written response to a question put forward by Independent MEP Marian Harkin seeking confirmation about the Water Framework Directive and water charges in Ireland

RTÉ reports:

The European Commission has confirmed that it does not believe Ireland has a derogation from water charges under a key European Union directive.

The Commission has said that it considers the application of water charges as qualifying as Ireland’s so-called “established practice” under the Water Framework Directive.

The clarification by the Commission increases the likelihood that it could take action against the Irish Government if it abandons water charges.

In a written statement to Irish MEP Marian Harkin, the Commission says that Ireland cannot “revert to any previous practice” as to how it complies with the Water Framework Directive.

The Commission’s response confirms a report broadcast by RTÉ News on 31 May.

Meanwhile…

No derogation from water charges, Commission says (RTÉ)

Previously: ‘I’m Saying That RTÉ’s Report Is Not Balanced’

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19 thoughts on “Charging Ahead

  1. Charger Salmons

    Welcome to the real world.
    Ireland will be told exactly what to do by the EU and Ireland will fall over itself to carry out those orders.
    100 years on and nothing much has changed at all has it ?

    1. Condescending nana

      god another moron, go ahead and leave the EU then, see how far your little inbred tax heaven gets without the subsidies and EU market. Wake up you cretin, the foreigner leave you are buggered all the the way back to the 80 you complete muppet. Pay for your water you tax dodging skanger.

      1. Charger Salmons

        Did you write that in some spittle-fuelled stream of consciousness ?
        Or are you basically thick ?

  2. Eoin

    FU EU. EU bureaucrats have learned nothing from Brexit. Keep this up and we’ll be exiting next. I don’t think this statement is going to prevent the next anti Irish Water protest?

    1. Vote Rep #1

      It would be hilarious if people started to demand to leave because of this. Pretty much Ireland’s whole economy is based on being in the EU. Leave and it will be like the 80’s again all because some people didn’t want to pay for their water.

  3. manolo

    From now on will every disagreement end with a brexit-type threat? The EU won’t have much of a chance then….

    As for the water charges issue, whether they should apply or not, the way it is being done is pretty low. If the plan was all along to hit a certain threshold in payments (even using a ‘grant’ as a bribe to achieve it) and then get the EU to say there is no way out, this should be enough for the government to be kicked out of office.

    1. ahjayzis

      We need capital investment, agreed.

      When did you come to the view capital projects should be paid for by a flat tax, though?

      And what else do you, (and I guess Labour), think should be funded from now on with a poll tax regardless of income?

  4. Turgenev

    Infrastructure needs funding. But not in the manner it’s being done now.

    And saying that having twisted a country’s arm up behind its back and told it “Give us your pocket money or you’ll know what’s what” makes an ‘established practice’ is a bit rum.

    1. DubLoony

      What do you suggest? Would it incentivise people to conserve water, buy water efficient appliances etc?

      1. ahjayzis

        Why are you conflating the two things? You want to charge for us, grand, but then you want to flat charge everyone for a massive network upgrade at the same time.

  5. Bonzor

    This is really happening, isn’t it? The anti-everything brigade are going to demand that we leave Europe over water charges.

    I’m reminded of an article, possibly by Harry McGee in the IT, about how the rise of SF had kept a lid on UKIP-style nationalism in Ireland with their brand of populist politics. I fear where we might end up if the Paul Murphy brigade make an Irish exit their rallying call to block water charges – bearing in mind that the hard left are ecstatic with the potentially fatal Brexit blow to the European project. SF have a left flank to protect at all costs.

    1. Kieran NYC

      +1

      So was Lynn ignorant or lying with her previous misrepresentation of the EU’s position on water charges?

  6. Mulder

    Ehh, irish water, the gift that keeps on flowing and flowing.
    So wonder, who or what started, this, flow.
    No need to guess, the irish government of course.

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