Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

In many parts of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and other areas around the country, ordinary householders and taxpayers have been peacefully protesting against the installation of water meters, because they know that these are the tools by which the Government is to impose yet another austerity tax upon them. These people have been forced to carry so much already, as part of the bailout of bankers and bondholders.

This was a huge issue at the local and European elections. The policy of Fine Gael and the Labour Party was flatly rejected and the moral right is entirely with the householders and those protesting, yet the Government is using the Garda to try to force this development on people. Is that not the case? I put it to the Minister that at a time when many people complain that they cannot get a garda when they need one in emergency cases, perhaps a case of domestic abuse or some other issue, this is a scandalous waste of public resources.

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