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TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has this evening defended the introduction of water charges, in the face of historic nationwide protests earlier today.
Speaking at the Fine Gael Presidential Dinner in the Doubletree Hilton on Dublin’s south side tonight, Kenny said Irish Water had been set up, and water charges put in place “as an alternative to increasing income tax.”
I am not prepared to increase income tax by four percentage points on the top rate, to do away with our tax package in the recent Budget…
…the introduction of Irish Water is being done in this way as an alternative to increasing income tax…
The government did not increase income tax in the last three and a half years, and in the most recent budget have reduced the top rate, and increased the band at the lower rate…and that will continue next year, and the year after if the government is re-elected.
He denied, however, that his specific and repeated reference to a 4% income tax increase was a “threat” to voters, saying that he was describing a set of “choices” presented to his government, and to the public.
They can either re-elect a government that pulled our country out of the economic swamp in which we found it, or we can hand it back to those who wrecked it, or to those who have no stability and no consistency on how to pay for any of these services…
Surrounded by Fine Gael representatives and members, the Taoiseach added that without water charges, Ireland would left in “a situation where people…continue to boil water for decades” – an outcome he said he was “not prepared” to allow.
Reacting to today’s demonstrations, which saw more than 100,000 people take to the streets of towns and cities across Ireland, Kenny insisted the government was “listening very carefully.”
We are conscious of people’s concerns, and we will deal with this clearly and with certainty…
In the next number of weeks we’ll set out what people really want to hear – and that’s certainty and clarity about how much they pay, what they pay for, how they can pay that, and what they get in return.
Additional reporting by Hugh O’Connell.
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Parnell street in limerick and dublin have a lot in ccommon, horrible streets and a no noo after dark.
Parnell St?? Don’t you mean ‘The Strip’??
Parnell St Limerick most times of the day or night is like a scene from a Zombie movie, comatose creatures staggering around aimlessly, randomly threatening violence…..
Aye both need a good sorting out vis a vis the clientele. Some way we honoured the man!
Aye true Kane, that is more like O’Connelll Street and Grafton Street in Dublin.
If I had my way, I’d build the biggest prison the world has ever seen, and fill it to the top. This country is a joke when it comes to justice.
Good lord, what is going on? I can’t really comment on the case itself, but these attacks (head injuries in the early hours) are becoming way to frequent and it’s just a matter of time before there is a fatality.
Fatality or not, there will be little justice for the perpetrators of these crimes. Our justice system is a joke. May this lady have a speedy recovery
Matter of time ?. This has already happened on a number of occasions. Remember the journalist who died from
Head injuries sustained after an attack.
The accused had his sentence postponed until he finished his FAS course. Imagine it a convicted killer allowed to finish a course. Ireland is beyond a joke
A case of a Tullamore man put a Bean Garda out of work for 18 months after responding to reports of two men kicking Taxis and breaking windows. Judge Carmel Stewart imposed a 240 hour Community Service Order on the 23 year old. Second case this week where a Garda was seriously injured and the sentence was Community Service. WTF ! Only in Ireland !
This is getting a lot of publicity and I’m wondering why? Happening every night of the week around the country but It seems the media loves a story about Limerick.
Its been a long time since the media had anything remotely juicy from Limerick. Not since the good people there stood up to the s*um who tried to take over.I don’t remember a murder in the city in over a year.Considering its unfair rep thats not bad.Infact its probably the safest city in Ireland at the moment.
The journal has been pretty good reporting on a lot of the positives in life limerick this year too to be fair
@Catherine. Not singling out the Journal. The media in general like to see Limerick as if its still in the dark days.There is a lot still to be done there but you can almost feel the change in the city.I know stories have to be reported but there seems to be a particular slant put on them when its Limerick.
Well there was a huge water protest in Limerick today, obviously not news worthy.
Yes but there are still reports weekly from the national media about incidents in Limerick that are otherwise ignored when they happen elsewhere. Limerick is by no means perfect but it gets far more attention from the media in proportion to its population.
paddy
last murder in limerick was 3 years ago
Well I do think the journals reporting has been pretty balanced this year . Limerick is a much quiter nicer place these days . I was on Parnell street last night but it must have happened after I left. There is always a strong Garda presence on that street too it has to be said.
Live in Dublin myself, originally from Limerick. New shooting/crash/stabbing/fire every single morning. Every morning. Not one day has the radio not reported an incident.
Fine gael memo
Find a link to Sinn Fein
If you can’t, make one up
No need to make jokes of a woman assaulted
With this level of paranoia the Shinners are clearly very upset this week.
No need to exploit a woman assualted but Inda does!
Women are worse than any fellas for fighting dangerous bitc*es
Enda will be exhausted
lmfao
enda is at her bedside…………….
You find the assault of a woman a suitable topic for “a laugh”? Says much about your misogyny.
ahippo
making things up again……………..oh i forgot, you’re fine gael
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