Campaigns // We Only Want the Earth!

“We declare the right of the Irish people to the ownership of Ireland...”

~ 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic

Thirsting for Justice

Introduction

Water is perhaps the most basic of natural resources - it is essential to all life on the planet. However, the right of people across Ireland to access this resource free-of-charge is under threat.

The introduction of stand alone water charges, as has been seen in other parts of the globe, will affect both public health and working people’s pockets. The Twenty-Six County government has already clearly demonstrated that it views Ireland’s natural resources as commodities to be sold off.

This privatisation agenda is complimented by the British government and its Stormont administration in the Six Counties. In 2007, plans were well advanced to place the northern water supply into the hands of private industry. Fortunately, the combined efforts of local communities, the trade union movement and various campaigning organisations put a temporary stop to the sell-off.

But the agenda to reverse the right to water remains in place. Over the coming years it is highly likely that the governments in both the north and the south will again attempt to force the people to pay for water which they already own. In all probability those same governments will attempt a ‘back-door’ strategy for the eventual privatisation of the water services.

éirígí is committed to actively opposing the privatisation of water charges, through the ‘front’ or ‘back’ door.

Water Charges in Ireland
Over the course of the last decade proposals for the introduction of stand-alone water charges have emerged in the six and twenty-six county states. In both cases these proposals were met with widespread opposition which led to them being shelved. The prospect, however, of this unfair taxes being introduced in the future remains. Click here to find out more about the background to water charges in Ireland. > >

The International Water Experience
Countries across the world have adopted a variety of different approaches in the provision of water for their populations. By examining the experience of other countries it is possible to evaluate which approach may suit Ireland the best. Click here to read about a number of International case studies. > >

Click here for ‘We Only Want the Earth’ > >