Alliance continues to oppose threat of 'water poverty' - Bell

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 6th Sep 2005

Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell has said the delay in implementing water charges offers the opportunity to stop the implementation of a new type of poverty to Northern Ireland.

Responding to comments by party colleague Kieran McCarthy, the North Down MLA stated: 'I am glad that this delay will offer us the opportunity to review the whole situation, although we will have to be quick.

'I agree with the General Consumer Council that the risk is that this will merely be seen as delaying the inevitable. As far as the Alliance Party is concerned, it is not.

'In Northern Ireland we already have financial poverty and fuel poverty, the last thing we want to do is add water poverty.

'Once again Alliance will lead the way in seeking to influence decisions on behalf of all our people before they are made, rather than merely moaning about them afterwards.'

Agreeing with his party colleague, Young Alliance Chairman Cllr Ian James Parsley added: 'This issue of water charging potential affects everyone in Northern Ireland. It is unacceptable, for example, that young people seeking to enter the housing market should have yet another financial hurdle put in their way, or that owners of small businesses should face a double charge for water at home and at work.

'Water delivery is a key service that people know they have to pay for. However, there should be no issue of charging for water in addition to what is already paid for through rates, nor should any group of people be specifically disadvantaged by a new charging system.

We in Alliance will not duck our responsibilities, and will continue to campaign for a fair system.'

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Eileen Bell MLA is also Alliance spokesperson for Social Development.

2. Cllr Parsley is a local businessman and member of the Federation of Small Businesses.