: Gardaí called as Limerick residents block Irish Water staff Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 10:51 AM Gardai had to be called after residents of a Limerick housing estate prevented Irish Water staff from entering the estate this morning to lay water metres. Workers from the private company arrived at around 7am to begin digging up pavements outside homes in Abbeylock, Corbally. However, the company vehicles were stopped from entering the estate by a waiting wall of residents. The peaceful stand-off continued for about an hour, locals said. Gardaí, who were called to the scene, left soon afterwards after residents told them they were engaged in a lawful, peaceful protest. The metre installation workers left shortly afterwards to cheers from residents. A number of metres were installed at the estate yesterday. Meanwhile, the Anti Austerity Alliance (AAA) has called on people affected by the ongoing water crisis in Limerick City, to attend the next meeting of the city councillors next Monday at 9:30am in City Hall, Merchants Quay, where motions on the issue are to be debated. Thousands of people in the City have been told by Irish Water not to drink the supply in their homes after unsafe levels of lead were found in the system due to the presence of ancient lead pipes in the homes. High lead levels in lead can cause development problems in growing babies and in the foetus of pregnant women. It can also cause other serious health problems. AAA Limerick Councillor Cian Prendiville has put forward a motion before the council for free bottled drinking water to be provided to those affected until all lead pipes are removed. He said he believes the motion could pass if people keep up the pressure on the councillors. He said the motion would also guarantee that water is delivered directly to the elderly and others unable to collect it themselves, and he called for an exemption from the water tax for those affected. Cllr Prendiville said: People have heard enough vague statements, they want definite promises, and clear action, and thats what this motion attempts to provide. I think all the councillors will be judged not on what they say, but on what they do and how they vote on this motion. irishexaminer(It is great to see elected Councillors actually representing the people who elected them. The next step should be to pass motions in Councils requiring the return of water services to the Local Authorities with adequate funding to do the work necessary to make them fit for purpose. A good start to the required resources would come from stopping the metering programme and diverting the money and labour to useful work on the system and ceasing the waste of the money used for fluoridation. The remainder could come from a rise in the top rate of income tax and the creation of an additional higher band, plus the institution of a Financial Transaction Tax. This is one of the recommendations of the Troika. Odd how the only recommendations that this government have been keen to implement have been those that increase pressure on ordinary working people and the vulnerable. Along with the enforcement of the real rate of corporation tax, 12.5%, one of the lower rates in Europe, money would become available to start to address the housing crisis, the jobs crisis, the health crisis and the water crisis. But never mind the real crises just feel the GROWTH!!! Hope to see many of you in Patrick, Cork City, at 2 pm, at the bridge end of the Street, on Saturday week, 20th September, to demand a right to clean safe non-mnedicated water free at the point of use and not sold by the litre. If you cant make Cork, or even if you can, why not go toDublin on the 11th of October, for the national protest. Carry fluoride placards and banners and try to get any organisations you belong to to back these protests and advertise them to their members. Endless Kenny is a thief and a poisoner. The Thiefseach! Ed)
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:32:10 +0000
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