With water charges coming into force this month, a public protest against the controversial new tax takes place in Eyre Square this Saturday from 1pm.
The We Won’t Pay campaign is urging people to take to the streets as part of the Galway Unites Against Water charges protest, one of more than 20 such protests taking place across the State.
While the unprecedented level of public protest against the water tax has led to the Government to make a number of concessions, such as lowering the charges, We Won’t Pay argues that this does not address the key underlying concerns around the future costs, commodification and privatisation of water.
“All the concessions can be overturned in the future and are therefore meaningless,” a spokesperson for the group said. “We need to maintain the pressure on the Government and get these charges abolished completely.”
We Won’t Pay will also hold a public meeting on water charges to be addressed by Socialist Party TDs Paul Murphy and Joe Higgins, in The Pillo Hotel, Headford Road, this Monday at 8pm.
“Recent polls suggest that over a third of people intend not to pay once the bills are issued from April, with another third unsure at this point,” the spokesperson said. “A large rate of non-payment would spell the end for Irish Water and water charges in general. The impetus is with the people to withhold payment and keep the pressure on the Government.”
