Fine Gael Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton
RTÉ reports:
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Bruton said in the event that charges continue in the future then those who were in default will have their bill pursued.
If water charges are to be scrapped in the future, then people who have already paid their bills will have to get their money back, he said.
It is proposed that Irish Water will be retained while the funding model for water will be examined by an independent commission and then an Oireachtas committee before a Dáil vote takes place on its recommendations.
Proposal to suspend water charges for at least nine months (RTE)
Significant upgrades to the water infrastructure will come from general taxation so. Middle Ireland will pick up the bill, yet again.
Motor tax hike on the way so
The current level of charges were only covering the billing and admin costs of the quango.
A good argument to increase the water charges to their real cost, indeed.
It is, I suppose.
But the arguments that the majority of the country are against them, against Irish water and will (again) punish anyone forcing this down their throats are compelling, too.
You don’t fupp up something this badly and still get to get it through.
“But the arguments that the majority of the country are against them”
– water charges are very unpopular among a sizeable minority of the population, but 61% paid; that’s more than half of voters in urban areas who will be very, very annoyed if they feel themselves penalised for doing the right thing.
I also think that rural voters who have paying for their own wells and water treatment for years will be very peeved if they perceive that urban-dwellers are let off the hook for paying for water yet again.
Get your facts right. It’s 61% of people who’ve registered. Still waiting for IW to release latest payment figures which have undoubtedly collapsed.
+1 on both points as an urban dweller from a rural location
Rob is a known troll.
61% paid something, at *some* point, during the last two years. We have no idea who is *still* paying regularly. The figures are dodgy and evasive, IW refuses to release the people who paid Bill A, Bill B etc.
The only real stab at guessing public opinion is the fact a sizeable majority of the Dail were voted in who oppose this system.
Rural dwellers should receive help, but it’s not six of one and half a dozen of the other. You build a one-off house in the middle of nowhere you take the costs associated with servicing it, which are usually far less than the costs of living in an urban setting. That’s been the trade-off since cities were invented. By way of consolation they have more space, less crime, less pollution, lower cost of living, yadda, yadda. They can get peeved when they’re asked to pay anywhere near the price of a Dublin property price or household charge.
Idiotic argument. Who is in favour of taxes?
“Idiotic argument. Who is in favour of taxes?”
Monumentally cretinous response, thanks.
Anyone who ever needs a hospital, school, road, social welfare.
Basically everyone who doesn’t want to go back to a medieval society.
FG lost 20 odd seats promising lower taxes – the parties promising increased social expenditure and preserving the taxes were boosted. That’s been the received wisdom of the election result, people want services restored before tax deductions.
Yes!
I don’t drive!
Woooohooooooooooo!!!!
* turns ten taps on, and splashes around naked *
A new road tax for everyone that uses a road for something, even to look at!
the road is lava tax. Step on, pay up.
Do you mean Laois, Offaly & Westmeath. Are they the middle Ireland you speak about!
Up to a few years ago there was never a mention of water infrastructure – the reality is that no government then or since give a hoot about it. It’s all ‘smoke and daggers’ to line the already bulging pockets of the likes of REDACTED
that’s exactly what it is. a big scheme so dob can get rich
He’s already rich. Keep up.
@jack, even if you are correct, that doesn’t the facts.
We need to invest in our water infrastructure.
Setting up a central utility & putting a value on water makes this much easier.
Yes, I forgot. Only middle-Ireland pays tax. Lower-paid workers let off the hook and the unemployed exempt of VAT on their grocery purchases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1rRszEYKdM
You can blame the electorate for this mess. Ireland gets the governance that it deserves a large part of the time.
Sure, at least you voted for Kodos.
…heard Olivia O’Leary give her weekly lecture on RTE Drivetime yesterday saying that she had just paid her water bill… as her form of protest…even for chief labour shill that is above and beyond the call of duty.
wtf…..
I lost all respect for that lady quite some time ago. Just to reassure you young folk – it is not compulsory to become an establishment lackey/fatcat because of advancing years.
I fear the message may not have been picked up on, looking at LY.
She’s usually tolerable but was downright nauseating yesterday!
Olivia O’Leary and her patronising propaganda.
So that’s fun. we didn’t want to pay, but then we had to pay IW to get our landlord deposits back, and now we’re going to have to apply to get a refund from IW. clusterfupp.
What a joke.. this says no refunds Starina.
http://theliberal.ie/chalk-one-up-for-ireland-water-charges-are-gone-but-no-refunds-to-those-who-did-pay/
I have copied and pasted a link there… I know ye’d take my word for it too like . :)
I cannot honestly believe this is the most important, most discussed, most elected on topic facing Ireland today. It absolutely boggles the mind that we have delayed a government and threatened another election all because we can’t sort out how to fund our water supply- not our health system or refugees or homelessness but a bill that comes through the letter box. Incredible
We didn’t delay the forming of the gov…FG and FF did
+1
@Rompsky – It’s not the most important topic but it is a point of principle. If we lose the fight against water charges we lose a rare opportunity to show the government that we call the shots in this country. The government exists to serve the citizens, not to exploit them and/or oppress them. If we want to solve health, homelessness and many more serious problems facing society we need to show our government that they are answerable to the people.The reason we have these problems that affect regular people is because we have let them walk all over us for decades. If we had the upper hand in 2008 the bank guarantee would never have been passed and €40k of state debt would not have been placed on the shoulders of every single man, woman and child in this rotten state.
Liam – the sort of people who won;t pay the water charges do call the shots in this country & have done for a long time.
It is we usually ruled over by a shambolic FF govt.
That’s nonsense Classter.You haven’t backed up your answer with anything so I can’t make much of an argument.
What a load of nonsense
But the bank guarantee isn’t discussed as money we shouldn’t be paying….
No bill for that out unfortunately.
For that one..
Time to shut this country down. We are not developed enough to run it by ourselves. Broadband for all by 2020, no wait sorry 2022, maybe. E voting. Corruption. Parish pump pissing about. A motorway for some people. Potholes. Brown envelopes for all. It’s all about who you know.
Thankfully we keep getting told this goes on in all countries.
Back to my pint and snack box.
F U Bruton! Anyone really believe ANY of the figures coming out on Irish Water? 61%? Seriously? I don’t believe a word of it. I was on an 80k march against Irish Water and austerity and RTE and the government now say only 15-20k marched. Question everything coming out of these lying scumbags.
You counted the 80k yourself, I take it?
Interesting in a poll on the Irish times today of 5,000 votes. 70% want it Irish water abolished, 10% restructured, 10% don’t care
All that poll tells us is at least 3,000 people want Irish Water abolished.
Right so you’re completely writing off polls then? Well never see you cite or discuss one here?
It was an internet poll
There is quite a bit of difference between polling a random sampling of the population, and an online poll that is much more likely to be visited/voted on by people with a bias for one side of the other.
(See the Boaty McBoatface “controversy”).
The other 10% want corruption & look after number 1
I want a water utility & water charges.
I don’t want corruption.