Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

We hear the same mantra from the current Government, using the IMF and the EU as a stick to beat us, that this is part of the IMF-EU agenda and must be implemented. I challenge the Government on that. The last thing the people of this country need is more taxes; what this country needs is more money. We need more money in the pockets of people to spend more money and create more jobs in our local shops and cities.

Water is an essential service. It is not an optional service such as the plastic bag levy, where one can buy a material bag rather than paying the surcharge on a plastic bag. This is an essential service and talking about waivers is an insult to the people of this country. We saw what happened with bin taxes. Waivers were introduced but within a number of years, most of the local authorities had handed over the service to private enterprise. South Dublin County Council has handed over this service to private enterprise and the waivers are practically gone in Dublin City Council. It is outrageous to say that this will protect the most vulnerable in our society. Within a number of years, the waivers will not be there and people will have to pay.

Along with Deputy Clare Daly, I warn that there will be a major campaign of resistance to water tax and property tax. Those who cannot pay will not pay. I heard the Minister on the radio saying that when he is going from door to door, people do not have the money. Our pockets are dry and we cannot afford to pay any more. People have disposable income of €70 per week and if the Government attempts to take any more, there will be major resistance. The United Left Alliance will be part and parcel of that process. I call on the trade union movement to do the same.

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