Sir, - The Government's actions on the water-charge issue have been cowardly and panic-stricken. The 1974 document A Government of Renewal, published by the Coalition parties, promised ". . . effective and accountable local administration..., a Commission to oversee devolution and a widening of the role of local government ... Review of funding mechanisms for local government was also to be on the agenda.
Such a programme implies a realistic approach to charges for local government services. The Government, however, is running scared. The fear of single-issue candidates seems to have ruled out any prospect of reform. This retreat is a surrender to anarchy.
The proper response is a genuinely radical reform of the income-tax code. In hindsight, it now seems that the Progressive Democrats' budgetary strategy would have been better. Genuine income-tax reform would have been adequate compensation for those levied with water rates. Piping unlimited quantities of water into homes is fiscal lunacy - no different from piping in unlimited quantities of electricity.
Water is a precious and scarce resource. It is costly to harness and pipe. It should be charged for on the basis of what is used; then the consumer would treat it with the respect it deserves. Proper provision could be made, as in other areas, for hardship cases.
The climb-down by the Government evokes memory of another surrender to anarchy - that by Fianna Fail on the rod licences, where once again policy yielded to political pragmatism. In the water rates issue, the centralist state fixation of Democratic Left has hobbled Fine Gael and Labour. Their experience in this Coalition may make them hope for a less colourful rainbow next time around. - Yours, etc.,
Windsor Terrace, Dublin 8.