Tag Archives: anti-water charges

Two national rare disease groups have added their voice to the opposition to the anti water charge campaign EDS Awareness Ireland, which represents over 300 families suffering with EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), is concerned for its members and the financial burden the water charges will entail. Irish Dysautonomia Awareness represents approximately 100 Irish people who suffer from autonomic dysfunction. Both groups are working together as both conditions often go hand in hand. Chairperson of EDS Awareness Ireland, Yvonne Evans Nevin, said, “Water is a basic human right. Many of our members need extra water for various reasons. Having to monitor or cut down on water usage will lead to many health problems for those living with EDS and Dysautonomia. Many EDS sufferers are unable to work, or only able to work part time. The idea of having to pay hundreds of euros per annum means sufferers will find it difficult to pay for much needed physiotherapy sessions, medications and private …

ENDA Kenny is to face protests when he comes to Clare on Monday, with the revised water charges still the subject of much public anger. Gardaí met earlier this week to make plans for Monday, when the Taoiseach is set to visit TTM Healthcare at Ballymaley, speak at the Shannon Chamber president’s lunch in Dromoland and open Genworth’s new business centre in Shannon. There is speculation that jobs will be announced at TTM Healthcare and while there were reports that new jobs would also be announced at Genworth, a company spokesman told The Clare Champion this is not the case. It is understood that another Shannon company, which is due to take on new staff in 2015, are also hopeful that the Taoiseach will visit them. At a so-called street meeting in Shannon on Tuesday night, representatives of the We Won’t Pay anti-water charges campaign said they have plans to protest when the Taoiseach is in Clare. They also said …

Members of Clare Says No To Water Charges will demonstrate with placards outside Clare County Council headquarters before councillors’ monthly meeting next Monday. This is in addition to daily protests outside Irish Water’s offices in Ennis by those who are vehemently opposed to paying the controversial water charges, which are due to be sent out to homes next January. Boosted by the doubling of the attendance at the second county demonstration in Ennis on Saturday, Clare Says No To Water Charges has vowed to step up its campaign with a series of public meetings in Bodyke, Scariff and Miltown Malbay over the coming weeks. Preparations are also being made to organise buses from Ennis to transport protesters to demonstrations in Dublin on December 6 and 10. The group has reiterated its determination to continue organising demonstrations until water charges are abolished, despite the public apology from Irish Water chief executive, John Tierney, for mistakes made in the establishment of the …

Ironically, the weekend’s anti-water charge protests in Ennis, Shannon and Limerick, and indeed many other places around the country, took place in torrential downpours. However, this didn’t dampen the spirits of the estimated 1500,000 protesters, who sent a clear message to the Government that Irish Water is not the way to go. The Ennis protest began at O’Connell Square where speakers addressed  the protesters before the marched up the street and turned into Carmody Street and wormed their way back to the Square. Residents from a number of housing estates marched to the town centre area of Shannon, where the protest included the burning of notices from Irish Water. Several communities from South East Clare were well represented at the largest protest in the Mid West in Limerick city.