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

What undermines democracy in the country is establishment political parties lying through their teeth to ordinary people at election time. The Tánaiste had a Tesco ad in one hand, promising no Fine Gael water charges, and in the other hand an application form to join a Fine Gael Government with water charges. Is it any wonder the Labour Party was eviscerated in Dublin West and Dublin South-West in the recent by-elections when they deceived an entire people in this callous fashion?

The campaign for the abolition of this bankers' and bondholders' water tax will continue without let-up. If it is still there, it will be a massive issue at the next general election and the Government will continue to push it at its peril. The Labour Party, in particular, will be lucky if it does not evaporate and disappear if it continues this breach of the interests of ordinary working-class people.

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