Sinn Fein's position on water charges

Dear sir- The Labour Party has accused Sinn Fein of doing one thing in the North and another in the South (Letters, 12th May). This is a blatant lie. Given the continuing trend of recent polls, it is hardly surprising that the Labour party are beginning to panic and realise that they have turned their back on the citizens of Ireland, of which they promised the sun, stars and the moon. If I recall right during the General Election of 2011, the now Labour party minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin said his party was 'entirely opposed to water charges'. Yet, we have seen the Labour party back these proposals of this new tax in the Dáil. Fine Gael and Labour are now ideologically committed to privatisation and we believe that proposals to establish one organisation: Irish Water, is laying the foundation for this. Sinn Féin have made submissions to what was to be a public consultation on the reform of the water sector in Ireland. That process has not even concluded, but the government has clearly made decisions on the issue, ignoring the democratic process. Here we have proposed that investment in water services should focus on repair of the infrastructure to stop the massive waste of water leaking from pipes, instead of imposing more pressure on people already struggling in this economic crisis. To this end, Sinn Féin has prevented the introduction of water charges and the privatisation of the water services in the north and will continue to do so. As Assembly Minister, Conor Murphy had responsibility for water services, during this time he ensured the blockage of any attempt to introduce water rates. Westminster tried to bully us into imposing water charges, Sinn Féin successfully resisted this. Instead we invested £1 billion over four years, £1 million every day, without ever introducing water rates. This money was raised through inter departmental savings. Up to six per cent was saved through efficiencies. This money was used to upgrade the water system. Yours, Cllr Caoimhe Ní Shluáin, Sinn Féin, Kilberry Heights, Kilberry, Navan.