PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: PARTIES CAN'T FORGET PLEDGES ON WATER CHARGES

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns has called on Conor Murphy to uphold his party’s manifesto commitment and drop plans to introduce water charges. He also stated the SDLP remain “totally against the proposals which came before the Executive.”

He said: “The SDLP prides itself on our manifesto commitments.

“These pledges have given us our mandate and unlike other parties we can look people in the eye and tell them an SDLP promise actually means something.

“That is why our Assembly team voted against a flawed Programme for Government and Budget.

“It is why unlike other parties such as Sinn Fein and the DUP we will continue to oppose water charges.

“With this issue due to come before the Executive today I would call on Conor Murphy to see sense.

“I would ask Mr Murphy to give serious consideration to the findings of the independent review panel recommendations. After all he established the panel.

“We also need a commitment that there will be no separate billing system which is merely a pathway to privatisation.

“Otherwise it will be clear to all that Mr Murphy is advocating privatisation through his support for separate billing.

“The SDLP would like him to buy out the Crystal Alliance domestic billing contract and provide the legislation that would authorise the Land and Property Services to collect the money for water through the rates.

“We would also like to see a real commitment to mutualisation which would see the water service run for the best interest of the public not private shareholders.

“The SDLP continue to oppose universal metering on the grounds of the cost of installation. Moreover, they are a lucrative enticement along the road to privatisation.

“And in the interest of clarity and transparency I call on the Minister to make an upfront admission of the real domestic cost of water through a clear listing on rates bills.”

ENDS