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Farmers urged to ignore water
bills
04.04.08
Story: Inishowen Independent
THE IRISH Farmers Association in Donegal confirmed
yesterday that they will be asking members not to
pay water bills to Donegal County Council pending a
series of planned negotiations with council
officials over the weeks ahead.
Speaking following a protest by farmers outside
yesterday’s county council meeting in Lifford, IFA
Regional Development Officer Davie Keith, said that
members should hold off from paying their water
bills for now.
“The protest was a huge success, we had hundreds of
farmers here and we have had some success in raising
our concerns with the council,” he said.
Mr. Keith explained that a deputation from the
protesting farmers had been invited inside to meet
with council officials and the County Manager,
Michael McLoone. |
“We weren’t able to
find a resolution to the issue and as a result we’ll
be telling our members not to pay the charges.”
However he did add that the farmers group will be
meeting again with council officials in the weeks
ahead.
“We did have some success at the protest in that the
council has indicated that they will look at
hardship cases and if any farmer is in serious
difficulty and they are unable to pay the council
will come to an arrangement with them.” |
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That said, for now the
IFA will be asking their members not to pay any
money while they continue with their negotiations
with the council.
“What we are trying to impress on the council and
the councillors is that there should be a livestock
rate which is separate to the metered rate for
business. After all as it stands farmers are paying
the same rate as someone producing orange juice for
instance. The thing is they can adjust their price
accordingly but the farmer is in a business where he
does not set the price for his goods and he cannot
recoup the costs,” Mr. Keith concluded. |
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