Sir, – I discussed this issue with a colleague from Greece. He is used to paying for water, but told me the bill at his parents’ house in Athens gets as high as €8 a month in summer. I cannot confirm this but I am going to make a wild guess – by 2017 we will have the dearest water in Europe. – Yours, etc,
FRANK NEENAN,
Carlow.
Sir, – The Government has been repeatedly criticised for “failing to reform” and for not delivering “new politics” – however it’s clear that the public does not want meaningful changes in how Ireland is run.
The property tax, meant to smooth cyclical tax revenues, was resisted tooth and nail despite representing a tiny fraction of the value of homes; bizarrely the most vocal opponents included the Trotskyite parties.
Central Bank rules intended to reduce the cycle of boom and bust in the property market are being watered down after public uproar including from those who position themselves on the left of the political spectrum and those who advocate social justice and fairness.
Now water charges intended to support replacing the crumbling infrastructure and end the anomaly where those with private water sources subsidise their city cousins’ supply (as well as that of holiday homes, etc) through their taxes has provoked the largest marches in years. At the same time as the hoopla over Irish Water remuneration dominates the airwaves, the Government is considering reversing public sector pay cuts without first revisiting the absurd pay levels awarded under what was laughably termed benchmarking.
I hope it is a case that a vocal minority is dominating the debate – otherwise we may as well cut to the chase and bring Bertie Ahern out of retirement and be done with it. – Yours, etc,
MATTHEW GLOVER,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.