Senior trade unionists are meeting the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, today to outline their objections to Government plans for the privatisation of Dublin's water supplies.
This follows a threat of industrial action by waterworks employees on Sunday. The workers are meeting again on Thursday to review the situation.
The problem arises from the need to upgrade the Ballymore Eustace plant at an estimated cost of £60 million. Under the National Development Plan, the Government is recommending a joint public/private partnership. Consultants have also recommended this option to Dublin Corporation. Under it, a private contractor would be allowed to lease the plant for 20 years and recoup the investment through water charges.
Yesterday, Dublin Corporation management and union representatives agreed through their partnership forum to recommend to Mr Dempsey that the city retain control of the plant. As an alternative, the forum is proposing a special purpose vehicle which would allow the corporation to retain a significant share in the project.
The corporation's personnel manager, Mr Frank Kelly, confirmed that senior management had agreed a joint strategy with the unions to recommend continuing public control of the city's water supply. Meanwhile, an Irish Congress of Trade Unions delegation will meet Mr Dempsey today to outline its concerns.
SIPTU branch secretary Mr Paul Smith said the alternative to public ownership was to allow a situation to develop similar to that with the toll roads. Private owners would concentrate on return on investment rather than water quality.
"If the corporation decides to contract out Ballymore Eustace, there is nothing to prevent them privatising everything," Mr Smith said.
He added that the unions had made it "abundantly clear" yesterday that workers would withdraw from the partnership agreement in Dublin Corporation if it complied with the Government's approach.