by Alan Jacques
(Pic: Munster Images)
“NOT a penny Kenny” was the clear message from the 3,000 people who took to the street of Limerick last weekend to protest over the imposition of water charges.
Organised by the Anti Austerity Alliance, the ‘No Means No — We’re Still Not Paying’ campaign was one of a series of well attended protests held around the country on Saturday.
AAA representative Cian Prendiville believes the Government are now on the back foot. The City North councillor claims the “establishment” completely underestimated the anger that exists in society after years of “brutal austerity” and are now scrabbling about trying to buy people off with their concessions.
“The potential to build a new political alternative exists with working class communities organising themselves from below. We can defeat this Government and that power can be used to shape and build a society that is run in the interests of the 99 per cent instead of the dictatorship of the one per cent that currently exists,” he said.
Dublin West Socialist TD Joe Higgins, who joined the Limerick protest, insisted that the strength of the continuing demonstrations proved that people were not falling for the Government’s “political trickery”. He predicted that the anti-water charges campaign would continue until the charges are abolished.
Sinn Féin councillor Maurice Quinlivan was of the opinion that people are “fed up” and want a general election. He also claimed the Government are ignoring the people as they press ahead with the introduction of water charges.
“People didn’t buy into the so-called concessions and they remain opposed and want the charges scrapped. Instead of listening to the people, government ministers including the Taoiseach have hid behind spin, scare and smear,” the City North councillor insisted.
“This is a government that has lost the support of the people. That was crystal clear to me from those I spoke with at Saturday’s rally and at other local demonstrations across Limerick County. This is a government that is frightened of the will of the people,” he said.
Sounding the death knell for Irish Water, a hearse also joined the Limerick protest last weekend carrying damning slogans like “Stop the Death Tax” and “Bye bye Fine Gael — You won’t be missed”.
Organisers also called for as many people as possible to attend the national rally against the charges in Dublin on Wednesday, December 10.
