THE GROUP leading the protest against water charges has outlined its plans to hold a mass demonstration highlighting what they claim are “Draconian measures”.
The Wexford and Enniscorthy branches of the Right 2 Water movement are set to march from Ferrybank across Wexford bridge and through the town’s main thoroughfare this Saturday afternoon at 2p.m.
A more large-scale protest is scheduled for Dublin on the same day. Meanwhile, the Gorey faction of Right 2 Water will also host its own protest at 2p.m.
The lobby group, which has extended its remit beyond the water charge issue to include other key concerns, has now transitioned into what has been termed the Right 2 Change movement.
Loch Garman Against Austerity, People before Profit and Sinn Fein are a part of this alliance.
During a cross-party meeting held in White’s Hotel last Tuesday night, a crowd of 40 people met to lay down plans for the protest, which is a part of a national day of action.
The movement has put a huge focus on the need to make all decisions democratically by way of public meetings, where proposals are discussed and voted on by those in attendance.
Eoin Dunbar chaired the meeting. In his opening address, he stated: “Tonight’s meeting is called in advance of the nationwide protest. All of the groups involved are already signed up to the Right 2 Change agenda. Now we need to democratically decide together how we propose to mark it.”
People before Profit general election candidate Deirdre Wadding addressed the group meeting last week. The Wexford county councillor stressed that it is important that no single group “hi-jacks” proceedings, but the atmosphere in the room suggested that all of the left-wing groupings were singing from the same hymn sheet.
Cllr Wadding said: “It is about saying clearly that we stand together against water charges, in any format.”
Sinn Fein county councillor and general election candidate Johnny Mythen paid also highlighted the fact that the Right 2 Water campaign may have been the stimulus for the entire Right 2 Change movement, but it had now evolved into a broader push for “democracy, equality and social justice”.
“It’s also about pushing for decent working conditions, health care and tackling the housing crisis,” said Cllr Mythen.
He continued: “We’ve got to get these kinds of people out, in my mind they are fascists.”
The Sinn Fein local representative added that the Right 2 Change agenda has now been endorsed by five trade unions.
The third person on the panel was Terry Conlan of Loch Garman Against Austerity, the party which typically backs Independent TD Mick Wallace.
Mr Conlan firstly sent his best wishes to Sinn Fein county councillor Anthony Kelly who is currently recovering in hospital following a serious illness. “I hope to see him back on the protest line soon!”
He added that one statistic driving his organisation’s campaign was the fact that 250 people in this country allegedly increased their wealth by 17%, €75 billion.
The marchers will assemble in the car-park of the Riverbank Hotel, Ferrybank, from 1.30p.m.
When the group crosses the bridge it will turn right and head up to Redmond Square, at which point it will circumnavigate the roundabout and return back along the quay-front before turning right up along King Street and down the Main Street.
At the Bull Ring the rally will retreat onto the quay.