Sir, – A U-turn, a climbdown, a volte-face, a rowback, a 180, a flip-flop, a back-track, a watered-down version. – Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – U-bend or U-turn? – Yours, etc,
TOM GILSENAN,
Beaumont, Dublin 9.
Sir, – Those surviving on a pittance will be charged the same amount for water as those with too much to count. The distribution of money upwards continues unabated. Governance in Ireland, under this Coalition, is now utterly inglorious. – Yours, etc,
JIM O’SULLIVAN,
Rathedmond,
Sligo.
Sir, – What is the logic behind charging an adult living alone €60 for water, while a cohabiting couple must pay €80 each? – Yours, etc,
MIKE BROPHY,
Killiney, Co Dublin.
Sir, – The details of the revised water charges regime outlined in the Dáil yesterday are identical in almost every respect to the information leaked to the media in recent weeks.
As the Government had repeatedly assured us that the Cabinet exclusively was working on this package, it must be assumed that these leaks came from Cabinet members.
This is, of course, very worrying indeed and must be of grave concern to the Taoiseach, who I am sure will order an immediate inquiry – to be conducted by a retired High Court judge, of course. – Yours, etc,
HUGH PIERCE,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Watching the “debate” in the Dáil on the changes to water charges, I was struck by the bad manners of our so-called leaders. While the Minister was outlining the changes, Opposition TDs continually heckled him, and when the Opposition spokesman stood up to reply, most of the Government front bench walked out. How are we to have any respect for these people whose manners are worse than a bunch of rowdy schoolchildren? – Yours, etc,
MARK LEACH,
Dublin8.
A chara, – Minister for the Environement Kelly had already begun the predictable buck-passing. Asked if non-payers would be brought to court, he responded that this was a matter for Irish Water! I’m sure the same response will be forthcoming when charges are increased in due course. – Is mise,
GEAROIDÍN O’DWYER,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Anyone familiar with the unerring ability of Goverment TDs to issue retractions, contradictions and pure spin will probably wait another few weeks to see what else it is going to let fly out of their mouths, before deciding one way or the other.
Once people are signed up, 2019 will roll around quickly enough, the plebisicite will never happen and charges will quickly skyrocket before the whole thing is sold off to some private investor. It will then be too late for the Irish people to do anything about it.
Massive public protests get results and the anti-water charges campaign should keep up the pressure until at least a plebisicite is held and the future of Irish Water as a public utility is secured. – Yours, etc,
NICK FOLLEY,
Carrigaline,
Co Cork.
Sir, – My stance in favour of water charges all along has been because of the conservation argument. Now that we know the details of the water charges payments, it seems the conservation argument has gone out the window. It seems that what my anti-water charges friends were telling me in heated debates was correct, it was just a tax under another name.
What’s the point in conserving water if there is a cap in place? It doesn’t matter how much water you use. We are now being told that the meters will help reduce bills if you use a small amount of water. In reality the reduction will be minuscule and will not be worth the effort. Granted the meters may find a few leaks but if you are effectively not being penalised for them, what’s the point in getting them fixed? – Yours, etc,
THOMAS RODDY,
Salthill, Galway.
Sir, – The big problem is those who won’t pay and those who can’t pay. What is to be done about that? The Government’s answer is political, ambiguous and mealy-mouthed. People won’t be chased for the charge until a year and a month from the start date. The financial penalties seem rather low and will only count, apparently, when the residence is being sold. There is no mention of jail terms and confiscation of income or property. PPSs are not to be asked for and those which have been given are to dealt with by a protocol between Irish Water and the data commissioner.
The honest will wind up paying for the quango known as Irish Water. Those who don’t pay are going to get a lot more time with their money than the honest ones. Eventually, a detailed scheme will have to be designed for those who really can’t pay. This means income assessment, something Revenue and the Department of Social Protection seem reluctant to do. In the meantime, Irish Water will be racking up the costs, which will have to be paid in the future, almost certainly from government income or loans. So expect a big jump in water charges after 2019. – Yours, etc,
LIAM COOKE,
Coolock, Dublin 17.
A chara, – One water meter for sale. Like new. Any reasonable offer accepted. – Is mise,
MICHAEL A CARROLL,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – If we give it a few more months, the Government will be paying us to use water. – Is mise,
LOMAN Ó LOINGSIGH,
Dublin 24.