Sir, – Kathy Sinnott (“EU not pushing for Ireland to pay water charges, Opinion & Analysis, November 21st) states Ireland, unlike every other EU country, under article 9.4 of the EU directive does not have to pay domestic water charges.
Ms Sinnott says the credit for this goes to Bertie Ahern, because he “stood up to Brussels”. Surely the point here is that Mr Ahern was politically alert to the electoral dynamite in water charges, and having achieved article 9.4 sat back and failed to upgrade the Victorian water supply and sewage systems.
This awful legacy now has to be dealt with.What is the solution? Ireland is bankrupt, and only survives by being able to borrow in the global bond markets. There is an urgent need for funds to repair the water system, and build treatment plants.
Therefore, I respectfully suggest Ms Sinnott should address the hard, practical issue of raising these funds in an equitable way instead of promoting red herrings like the “Irish Exemption”. – Yours, etc, MIKE CORMACK, Blackrock, Co Dublin.