Thousands of people have gathered in Dublin for a national demonstration against water charges.
LIVE on #Periscope: #right2water protest Dublin #Sept17 https://t.co/e37jOrVliA
— Aulden/WoodlawnSayNo (@Aulden_Woodlawn) September 17, 2016
Protestors are making their way from Connolly and Heuston stations towards St Stephens Green calling for the charges to be abolished.
Heuston leg now joining #Right2Water march. Full quays too. Scale is similar to 2015 demos. pic.twitter.com/lFCKiwKP1i
— Ronan Burtenshaw (@ronanburtenshaw) September 17, 2016
To see this post on Facebook, click here.
The rally will also make its way past Apple’s headquarters in protest against the governments decision to appeal the EU’s ruling that the tech giant pay Ireland €13bn in unpaid taxes.
Na mílte ag máirseáil inaghaidh táillí uisce I mBÁC. #righttowater pic.twitter.com/bqwqQufZDi
— Peadar Mac Gaoithín (@MacGaoithin) September 17, 2016
“People power will eventually bring this down,” said one protester.
Great turnout easily 5000 just at Heuston station #Right2water #Sept17 pic.twitter.com/PpYTn2T8QC
— Mick Caul #Sept17 (@caulmick) September 17, 2016
“It’s been shown to work thus far, the political establishment are shaking in their boots, so this needs to be done.
“People need to get out and put shoes on the ground.”
"Banks got bailed out.." The ppl sing. But we're still burning billions to pay #anglo debt #sept17 #right2water pic.twitter.com/sr3yCKk1Iv
— fiona fitzpatrick (@fb_fitz) September 17, 2016
One woman at the march said: “This is just an austerity tax to bailout the developers who got bailed out by Nama and screwed us over, so that’s why we’re here.”
Saying 100000 here it's massive very loud #Right2Water well done pic.twitter.com/09EoQNI9ic
— Pinky (@cncpinky) September 17, 2016
Water charges are currently suspended, pending the outcome of an expert commission which is examining the future of water services.
• Sligo Says No to Water Charges •#Right2Water #Sept17 @Right2WaterIRL pic.twitter.com/okkYx0kIft
— Cllr Declan Bree (@Declan_Bree) September 17, 2016
However Right2Water Co-ordinator David Gibney says people want to see the charges scrapped completely.
“People are very frustrated and angry at the fact that 70% of TDs who were returned to the Dáil this time around are against water charges – yet Fine Gael and the Government have managed to prolong the debate about this,” he argued.
Sr an Dáma #right2water pic.twitter.com/CHRiYT92Aq
— Feargal Ó Cuilinn (@Feargoc) September 17, 2016
“They’re subverting democracy and that’s the way people feel. [People] are mobilising like never before for this demonstration because they’re so frustrated.”
Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, meanwhile, says he doesn’t have confidence in the expert commission on water charges.
The banks got bailed out, we got sold out! No way we won't pay! #Right2Water #watercharges @JohnLyonsPBPA pic.twitter.com/N441ad02wk
— People Before Profit (@pb4p) September 17, 2016
He says we should “simply cut out the middle man” of the commission and have the Dáil vote on the issue.
As well as calling for abolition of charges, the Right2Water group is also campaigning for a referendum to guarantee public ownership of water, as well as the rejection of the TTIP and CETA international trade agreements.
