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Water tax waivers a cynical ploy

11/06/12

éirígí Tallaght spokesperson Scott Masterson has branded the Dublin Government’s proposal on water tax waivers for low-income households as a cynical ploy.

Speaking from Tallaght Masterson said, “The Leinster House committee report that contains the Water Tax waiver recommendation is nothing more than a cynical ploy. It may seem like the socially decent thing to do but it is in fact the Fine Gael/Labour coalition attempting to divide the working class, by handing out waivers to some families but not to others.

“The ‘partial waiver’ idea which the committee is floating is clearly an attempt to divide and conquer. By splitting opinion they hope to stop any chance of a unified mass boycott campaign developing as has happened with the Home Tax. The thought of people in Killinarden, Fettercairn, Brookefield and all across Tallaght turning out in numbers to resist the installation of water metres frightens the life out of those in power.”

Masterson continued, “Even if these waivers are introduced there is no guarantee that they’ll last. Being offered waivers by this government is like a bully offering a child a toy only to snatch it back later. The residents of Lucan know this feeling all too well. Not six weeks ago the bin waivers of low-income families in the area ended, leaving them to foot an annual bill of 150 euro.

“The waivers are merely an attempt to dampen opposition to the water tax. And in a few years, with the water metres installed up and down the state, the waiver system will be scrapped, leaving people high and dry. The government will then have achieved their goal of taxing everyone for the basic human right of water in order to pay the debts of the private bankers.”

Masterson concluded by calling the recommendations in the report a fantasy, “If anyone really believes that profits from the water tax will be reinvested in improving the water network they are living in a fantasy world. If the government were serious about improving the water network they wouldn’t waste time and money on installing expensive metres. Instead they would fix the leaky pipes which account for about 60 percent of wastage. Water conservation and improving public services are not the Government’s priority. Squeezing every last euro out of the working class in this state is their real priority.

“The fight against the water tax is already under way. Soon Irish Water will try and install metres on our streets, in our estates and in our apartment blocks. But a concerted campaign of civil disobedience can physically prevent the installation of these meters. This is a fight we can win. The sooner people get organised to win that fight the better.”