Tag Archives: Irish Water

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Ger Kenny Art writes:

“I’ve decided to make good use of my Irish Water application with an oil portrait of James Connolly. I won’t be handing a cent to Irish Water as I have already paid for the water in my taps through my income tax, PRSI, USC and the levy on motor tax. I’ve heard the arguments ‘we need to pay for water and improve the infrastructure’ and ‘all the other countries pay for water’ – well, why wasn’t the infrastructure upgraded from our tax money over the years? Why wasn’t it upgraded at the height of the Celtic Tiger when we had a surplus in the budget? Strange, isn’t it, how water quality, conservation and infrastructure wasn’t an issue at the height of the boom when the country was rolling in cash. But, now when we don’t have a penny, it’s on the agenda. We were ordered to setup Irish Water by the Troika for one purpose and that’s to collect a tax to pay the bondholder. If a politician gives any other reason, then they are a liar.”

“This government continues to ignore the people and have any dialog with us but I think now most people have had enough and are starting to do something about it. I chose James Connolly as he would never have put the needs of financial institutions or bondholders ahead of the needs of an Irish citizen. Connolly would never have taken from the pockets of the most vulnerable people in society to top up the over flowing pockets of some faceless bondholder. I only wish that we had a man like Connolly to lead us today.”

Ger Kenny Art

Thanks Ronan

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During Irish Water questioning.

UPDATE: RTÉ News is reporting that the Ceann Comhairle will not come into the Dáil chamber until Mary Lou McDonald leaves the house.

FIGHT!

UPDATE:

Transcript of what was said before it all kicked off…

Mary Lou McDonald: “Let me return to , if I might the two specific questions that I’ve put to you, as Tánaiste, but also as Minister for Social Protection, I have asked you specifically to give an assurance to the Dáil, that you will not allow for unpaid bills to be deducted from people’s wages, people’s pensions, or people’s social welfare. That’s question number one, if you would answer. Question number two was, that you would not allow attachment orders to be used by Irish Water for unpaid bills. And I know Tánaiste that the House is sitting on Friday, I understand that there will be a vote on Friday, I wonder to myself and there is some speculation that there might be emergency legislation presented on Friday, perhaps to allow for these very things.”

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett: “Thank you.”

McDonald: “So put people’s minds at rest and make it clear today that you will not allow for deductions of unpaid bills from wages, from pensions and from social welfare and, address also please if you would, that the issue of attachment orders and make it clear that you will not allow for the use of such orders by Irish Water in respect of unpaid bills.”

Barrett: “Thank you, deputy. Sh, sh, sh.”

Joan Burton: “Well, first of all, just let me say, I’ve been listening very, very carefully to what people are saying…”

Barrett: “Sorry, sorry, sorry…”

Burton: “And deputy, what people have said to me, up and down the country, and I’ve had the opportunity to be in quite a number of different parts of the country, in recent weeks. And, listening to people, which I do, I’m not sure if you always do, but I certainly listen to people. Yesterday, listening to the [Maira Cahill] debate, it seemed like there’s a very large tin ear on the part of the many of the people that your party, in relation to very serious concerns. But listening to people, as I go around the country, what people say to me and I can only offer you my experience. And I…sorry…can I answer…you asked me about listening, can I tell you about listening? Can I answer the deputy, can I answer the deputy’s questions…what people say to me is they want clean, reliable water. In Roscommon they tell me, they don’t want to have to boil their water, as they’ve been doing for 12 years…

Barrett: “Thank you, thank you.”

Burton: In Dublin, restaurants and hotels tell me to continue the tourism and the hospitality trade in Dublin, Dublin needs a reliable supply of water, it doesn’t have it. Now in relation to next week…”

Barrett: “Would you please, we’re over time..”

Burton: “…In respect of next week, I have told you already that Minister Alan Kelly is finalising the package of proposals in relation to Irish Water and when he unveils the package, there’s been no agreement finalised in relation to the package, except, as I think I told you some weeks ago, I am very, very confident that the package will be one which will address the issue of single-person households and households where there are two or more people and that the charges will be modest and extremely affordable, particularly in the context of a budget where the middle-income families you’re talking about, the low-income families, the Budget has been built…I have told you…”

Barrett: “Sorry, thank you. Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan, deputy Maureen O’Sullivan. Thank you.”

All talk over each other.

McDonald: “Ceann comhairle…”

Barrett: “Sorry, would you resume your seat? Resume your seat? Well, then leave the house. Leave the house.”

McDonald: “I will not leave the house.”

Barrett: “Well then…”

McDonald: “My questions were put very clearly, in very clear… you did not answer..”

All talk over each other.

Barrett: “Deputy, I’m asking you for the final time, to leave the House, I’m asking you to leave the House. Ok, I’m putting the question, I’m naming Deputy McDonald, and I move that she be suspended from the service of the Dáil. Is that agreed?”

Update:

Update:

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Mary Lou McDonald this evening following her Dáil sit in.

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

https://soundcloud.com/andrewskeltonproductions/we-wont-pay

Andrew Skelton writes:

“After the recent campaign against yet another tax forced upon the great people of Ireland, I decided to produce this track using actual audio I recorded at public marches, “No way – we won’t pay”. Irish water and the Irish Government need to listen to the people for once. We have been listening to them for too long. Democracy “is what it is”.”

Choon

FIGHT!

We won’t pay (Andrew Skelton)

 

 

Outside and in, at the G.P.O. Dublin this evening as members of the Cabinet try to announce plans for the 1916 commemoration.

Pesky dissidents Peaceful protesters.

Jaykers.

Previously: Making It Up As They Go Along

We’re All Dissidents Now

Prime Time’s Mark Coughlan – The water protests in north Dublin (RTE)