Sir, – Des Kelly (May 9th) compares the price of bottled water in supermarkets to the proposed price of mains water under the Irish Water regime. He says the disparity between the two should give us food for thought. I am feeling undernourished.
Bottled water sold in supermarkets is a commodity that serves particular purposes. Some people buy it because they do not trust tap water, others because they do not have easy access to tap water at that moment. No-one I know buys it to bathe their children. It would be needlessly lavish, inconvenient and cold.
Mr Kelly’s letter highlights a deeper social and political problem. Conventional wisdom in Ireland now thinks of a substance essential to our most basic human needs as a commodity. Under the new Irish Water regime, one of our most basic human needs will be rationed on the basis of wealth.
All of the parties in Ireland’s political establishment see water as a commodity and not as a human right. This illustrates the real attitude toward democracy and social equality in official circles.
Food for thought, perhaps. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD McALEAVEY,
Mount Rochford Close
Balbriggan,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – Now that the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre will be using 12,000 litres of water during every performance of Singin' in the Rain (News, May 6th), one hopes that they won't follow this with The Merchant of Venice. – Is mise,
LOMAN Ó LOINGSIGH,
Ellensborough Drive,
Kiltipper Road,
Dublin 24.