Campaign 'isn't going to stop'

A protest will take place in Cork city today calling for immediate action to address the northside’s ongoing dirty and discoloured water crisis.

Starting at 6.30pm this evening, Thursday, outside Hollyhill Library on Harbour View Road, the protest will be the second of its kind in recent weeks, following a demonstration in Gurranabraher last month.

One of the organisers, Socialist Party Councillor Brian McCarthy, is calling on everyone in the community to come out and lend their voice to the cause.

“We know people in Knocknaheeny are facing the same issues with dirty water, the financial burden of having to buy bottled water and worrying about the health implications for themselves and their families,” said Cllr McCarthy.

“The protests are already having an impact, so we need to keep it up and keep putting pressure on Uisce Éireann and the Government to stop sitting on their hands. We need action, we need it now and this campaign isn’t going to stop until we get it,” he added.

Shortly after last month’s protest in Gurranabraher, Uisce Éireann announced it would begin extensive flushing in the area, however, Cllr McCarthy said this is a “temporary solution at best”.

“Access to clean water is a human right. The council needs to provide for people’s immediate needs, whether that means providing water tankers in affected communities, vouchers for bottled water or filters for houses to be provided.

“In the long term, we need a permanent fix and that means the Government putting in the money to upgrade the system,” concluded Cllr McCarthy.