The price of water

Sir, – Fianna Fáil’s stated policy is to abolish Irish Water and suspend water charges for five years, while legally pursuing people who haven’t paid those charges to date.

These elements might seem to comprise an illogical proposition, until one factors in the political calculus.

Abolishing Irish Water and suspending charges would impose on Fine Gael a humiliating U-turn, while requiring a minority government to pursue non-payers would ensure that the political controversy and associated protests were kept on the boil.

It seems that Fianna Fáil’s new politics can still accommodate cynicism of the first water. – Yours, etc,

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PETER MOLLOY,

Glenageary,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Many of the political parties, including Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, are still intent on abolishing or suspending charges for water services. This will mostly benefit urban dwellers, while penalising further rural dwellers who obtain their water services from group schemes or private supplies.

If charges are suspended or abolished, rural dwellers will be doubly penalised by having to pay up to €500 per annum for their own supplies, while also subsidising urban dwellers through their taxes. This is clearly unfair and probably unconstitutional.

I am calling on rural dwellers to make their feelings known to their TDs on this issue and to demand compensation if this policy is implemented.

Complaints could also be made to the EU authorities – they might have to force the Irish political system to implement policies that are fair to everyone. – Yours, etc,

JOHN DALY,

Shrule,

Co Carlow.