After months of protests, the government announces revised plans for water charges.
Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said he had listened carefully to the people of Ireland. Under the new plans for water charges, single adult households would pay €60 and other households would pay €160. Opponents of the charges described the changes as too little too late.
Those opposed to water charges continued to protest outside Leinster House and say the campaign to abolish charges will continue.
Their campaign would contain until their aim of abolishing the charges had been achieved.
Paul Murphy TD describes the charges as a flat rate home tax for a period of years and predicts that after a few years, the charges would increase. He believes that people will not pay the charge and the government will be faced with a massive boycott.
Ruth Coppinger TD predicts that the charges and the penalties for non-payment will become a major issue in the next general election.
The Green Party think that the government has missed an opportunity to provide a solution to conserve the nation's water supply and to protect it in public ownership. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says that there is a lack of emphasis on conservation of water. He believes it would have been better to have a referendum on the right to water.
The St Vincent de Paul Society strongly urged the government to reconsider the flat rate charge saying that some people will not be able to afford to pay. Brendan Hennessey, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, says,
Flat charges don't recognise the fact that certain people simply cannot afford charges.
The Right to Water Campaign will continue its action and demonstrations. Richard Boyd Barrett TD says that nothing the minister announced today will stop the protests.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 19 November 2014. The reporter is Ray Kennedy.
