• Question: what do you think about the water charges?

    Asked by Ryan to Sean, Michel, Kevin, Chloe, Anthea on 17 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Anthea Lacchia

      Anthea Lacchia answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      I think that there should be a charge like in most countries already, but of course it should be properly managed, and fairly dosed out. In other words it should be a transparent and fair system and I think that is what protesters are worried about here. What do you think?

    • Photo: Chloe Kinsella

      Chloe Kinsella answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      Ooh, controversial question! Personally, I do not agree with the water tax.
      The government claim they are concerned about water conservation and the environment but I feel like the charges are more about making money to repay for the bank crisis than to save water. The charges are rushed, too expensive and the use of our money is unclear. We already have water entering and leaving our houses, which means it is already being payed by our taxes. So I don’t feel happy about the government trying to charge me twice for it. 😡

      What do you think about the charges?

    • Photo: Michel Dugon

      Michel Dugon answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      Political questions are always controversial! There is a water charge in most (all?) European countries, but the quality, the service and the delivery are far better than what is generally available in Ireland… We should not have to pay for water per se, however it is normal to pay for the guaranteed delivery of clean, good quality water and to pay for a modern system for the treatment of water to reduce our impact on the environment.

      None are available at the moment in most parts of the country. I fear that the system being put in place at the moment is just an excuse for 1) a new form of public tax and 2) a scheme for the government to develop infrastructures on public funds and then sell it at a profit to a private company which will charge for water for profit-making. Access to water should a universal right, not a chargeable commodity.

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