Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I have no confidence in this Government and will vote accordingly. I am sure the Members opposite will vote to express confidence in their own Government and this Dáil, elected in its majority based on false promises that have now been broken. So what? It should be very cold comfort for the Taoiseach. Right now right across the country, people are preparing in huge numbers to come to Dublin tomorrow to pass judgment on his Government. They are preparing to flood the streets and march to show that all the tricks and black propaganda about sinister elements, sinister fringe elements and dissident elements demonising the protests have not worked. They are marching to show they have not bought or eaten the baby carrot of a tiny concession of a delay in uncapped charges until 2019. They are marching to manifest their absolute lack of confidence in the Government. This will be far more powerful and significant than any vote that takes place in this Chamber today.

Earlier the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, said he has been touring the country speaking to people and that, in the main, they have been convinced by the new regime of so-called modest water charges. How many people will it take tomorrow for him and the rest of the Government to eat their words? How many people on the streets tomorrow will it take for the Government to abolish water charges? How many people will it take for it to read the writing on the wall and go? Its time has passed. Tomorrow, not today, is judgment day for this Government. I have absolute confidence that people will mobilise in massive numbers at 1 p.m. at the back of the Dáil. People should do whatever they can to be there. If they cannot be there until after work, they should come in after work. The judgment they will pass is clear: no confidence in the water charges and the Government. It has to be brought down through people power. Tomorrow will be the start of the end of the Taoiseach's Government and will herald the building of a new mass political movement that will put the needs of the 99% before the interests and profits of the 1% and struggle to reshape our society.

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