Politics

Constitution must protect public ownership of water utility, says FF

Fianna Fáil wants to hold referendum on enshrining water utility as public asset

Minister of State Simon Harris: his party is at logger heads with Fianna Fáil over the way forward for the State’s water utility. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Minister of State Simon Harris: his party is at logger heads with Fianna Fáil over the way forward for the State’s water utility. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Sarah Bardon
Wed Apr 06 2016 - 01:00

Fianna Fáil

wants to hold a referendum on enshrining a water utility which could not be taken out of public ownership

in the Constitution.

During talks on government formation yesterday, the party told Independent TDs it is committed to abolishing Irish Water, suspending water charges for five years and establishing a slimmed-down water utility.

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Party leader Micheál Martin said legislation to implement the policy would be prepared within days. He said he was committed to suspending the water charges within six months of entering office and abolishing the €100 water conservation grant.

The party said it will scrap Irish Water within 12-18 months of entering government, a move it estimates would cost €9.4 million.

Fianna Fáil would establish a new national water body which would be directly funded by the State and operate in a manner similar to the National Roads Authority.

Responsibility for water would revert to local authorities and the metering programme would continue as it is at present, Fianna Fáil said.

Mr Martin told Independent Alliance TDs he was willing to explore enshrining the ownership of any water network in the Constitution to ensure it remains a public entity.

He also told the Independents people who have paid their charges will not be refunded or reimbursed, and those who did not pay should be pursued by the relevant authorities.

Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler said she believed refunds should be issued to hundreds of thousands of households which have paid water bills.

“I personally think they should be refunded, because why should so many people not have to pay and so many people , you know, who have paid in good faith, not get away with it.”

Abolishing Irish Water

Fianna Fáil TD

Timmy Dooley

also confirmed a number of staff “surplus to requirements” would lose their jobs if Irish Water is abolished. He said the majority would be transferred to local authorities but others would be made redundant.

“There are some who would transfer back to the local authorities where much of this work will be carried out; there are some who will be surplus to requirements,” he said.

“We’re very much of the view that there is a need for an independent overarching entity to ensure that those areas that need it get it.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has said it would not allow an independent commission established to examine water charges favour the retention of the levies.

Sinn Féin has said it would set up such a commission if given a mandate to do so, but party leader Gerry Adams said the terms of reference of the commission would ensure it cannot recommend keeping the current model. He said the commission "will be set up under very, very strict terms of reference which are about what's the best model for public ownership of that right of people to water".

The party favours the abolition of Irish Water and water charges but insist there has been no detailed or credible alternative to the current structure.