Right2Water Ireland

Right2Water Ireland is a peaceful[1][2] protest movement campaigning against Irish Water's introduction of water charges in Ireland.

Support and Opposition

Right2Water Ireland is supported by trade unions Unite the Union, the Communication Workers Union, the Civil and Public Services Union, MANDATE and Operative Plasterers and Allied Trades Society of Ireland (OPATSI), as well as political parties and politicians including Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, the Anti-Austerity Alliance, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Workers' Party of Ireland, éirígí and Sinn Féin.[1][2]

Right2Water Ireland shares opposition to privatisation with the European wide campaign Right2Water, however they differ on other water charges with the European campaign being open to charging for water.[3]

Marches

Right2Water Ireland's first march in Dublin took place in October 2014.[4] Subsequently, the group organised almost 100 protests across Ireland on 1 November 2014, including a second march in Dublin.[1][4][5][6][7] These demonstrations forced major concessions from the government.[2][8] On 21 October, Irish Water announced non-compliance rates of 66 per cent before the initial deadline ten days later, and the utility company was forced to extend its registration deadline by one month.[9] Though some government politicians and media reports linked them with an allegedly "sinister" protest in Jobstown later that month, Right2Water has said it was not involved.[2]

Right2Water Ireland organised a third national demonstration in Dublin on 10 December 2014.[2][10] An unofficial breakaway group of protesters occupied the main junction of the, city O'Connell bridge. Traffic was brought to a standstill as protesters used barricades and sat on the roads to block traffic.[11] After several hours the crowd of 1,000 had dwindled to an estimated 200. Scuffles broke out as Gardaí removed people by force to clear the thoroughfare and three men and a woman were arrested on public order offences.[12]

Right2Water Ireland organised a fourth national demonstration in Dublin on 21 March 2015.[13][14] This was attended by approximately 88000 people.[15] Among those to speak at this event were MEP Lynn Boylan, TD Richard Boyd Barrett and Bernie Hughes, one of the activists jailed earlier that year.[13]

On 18 April 2015, a march of approximately 15,000 people took place to protest water charges. The protest included a symbolic binning of water bills.[16]

On 29 August 2015, a march of "tens of thousands" (80,000 according to organisers) marched in Dublin to protest water charges.[17]

On 8 September 2015 the European Parliament report authored by MEP Lynn Boylan calling for the European Commission "to recognise that affordable access to water is a basic human right" was endorsed by a majority of MEPs.[18]

On 23 January 2016, thousands of people flocked to 30 demonstrations across the country.[19] On 20 February, a week before a general election, a further demonstration took place in Dublin.[20] It was attended by 80,000 people including election candidates.[21]

The Right2Water Ireland campaign announced a march in Dublin on 17 September 2016, citing its lack of faith in the expert panel set up by Government to oversee the issue and suggesting that the electorate, having given TDs a mandate to abolish Irish Water and taxes on water, remained angry that the matter had not been resolved.[22]

See also

References
  1. Finn, Christina (7 November 2014). "Right2Water campaign says the gardaí have been put in an 'invidious position': The group said it is committed to campaigning peacefully and condemns any violence". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. Ryan, Órla (18 November 2014). "Protest group dismisses water charge concessions as 'an attempt to buy time': Right2Water is planning another mass protest on 10 December". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  3. "About our Campaign | Water campaign". www.right2water.eu. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  4. Ryan, Nicky (30 October 2014). "Almost 100 anti-water charges protests planned across the country: It is the second day of action by the Right2Water group". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  5. Holland, Kitty. "Water charges march a 'tipping point' after 'years of hurt': Grassroots campaign shows 'huge anger' and 'massive revolt against this Government'". The Irish Times.
  6. "Water charges: Almost 100 protests across Republic of Ireland". BBC News - Europe. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. McCormack, Claire (1 November 2014). "Water charges protest draws massive crowd to the streets". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media PLC. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  8. "Protests forced major concessions from Government". BreakingNews.ie. 15 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  9. Melia, Paul (21 October 2014). "Irish Water crisis as 1m fail to sign up for charges: Deadline to be extended by a month as just 500,000 register details". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  10. "Capital grinds to a halt as tens of thousands stage mass anti-water charge protest". Irish Independent. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  11. Independent News & Media
  12. Daily Mirror
  13. Duffy, Rónán (22 March 2015). "'Does this look like a dying movement?' – Tens of thousands protest in Dublin". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. Duncan, Pamela (21 March 2015). "Water charge protest: Tens of thousands attend Dublin rally". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  15. "88,000 at Dublin march". Kildare Nationalist. 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  16. "Thousands protest over water charges in Dublin". RTÉ. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  17. "Tens of thousands protest against water charges in Dublin". RTÉ. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  18. "Right2water citizens' initiative: Commission must act, say MEPs | News | European Parliament". News | European Parliament. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  19. "Thousands attend Right2Water protests". RTÉ. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  20. "'Festival for Change': Calls for voters to protest like it's 2014 at last big rally before election: Organiser Brendan Ogle has predicted it will be "the biggest protest in Ireland ever"". TheJournal.ie. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  21. "Election candidates join thousands in Dublin protest against water charges". Irish Independent. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  22. "Right2Water angry water charges issue not resolved". RTÉ. 2 September 2016.
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