CITY North councillor Cian Prendiville urged those attending the We Won’t Pay campaign’s Water Bill Bonfire on Saturday to hold off on paying their water bills as the water charges boycott is “winning”.
Speaking at the event, which saw about 200 members of the public burn their Irish Water bills at City Hall, the Anti-Austerity Alliance councillor advised anyone considering paying the charge to “hold off, as any money handed over before the general election could be money down the drain if we succeed in getting these charges abolished”.
“Despite all the Government’s threats and legislation, it is still the case that there are no penalties, late payment fees or interest before the general election. If the boycott that has been established holds firm, it will force the abolition of these charges in that election, just like happened in Limerick in the 1991 local elections, and nationally in the run up to the 1997 general election.
“For those considering paying they should remember that on both those occasions, when the charges were abolished then, no refunds were issued. The money paid was lost – money down the drain. I’d advise everyone therefore to hold firm, and don’t give Irish Water any money. Even those who paid the first bill shouldn’t send good money after bad – they should join the boycott now as the second bills go out,” continued Cllr Prendiville.
Cllr Prendiville assured that “everyone can safely boycott at least until the general election, piling the pressure on all the parties and independents in that election”.
He concluded: “There will be non-payment candidates standing across the country in those elections too, and I’d encourage non-payers to only support those parties that support non-payment.”
