Andrew Carey
WATER charges should be immediately suspended until there is a complete review of the workings of Irish Water and how it is to be funded, according to Fianna Fail TD, Niall Collins.
The Limerick deputy said this Wednesday that Fianna Fáil will force a special debate on Irish Water during its private members business in the Dáil this week.
The opposition party is calling on the Government to fully review the funding model at Irish Water and immediately cease the payment of bonuses at the company.
“There must now be a full and frank debate on the future of Irish Water. Since its inception there have been a number of high profile controversies at the organisation, including highly damaging revelations about the bonus system being constructed within the company.
“Any public trust with the operation of Irish Water has been broken. People I talk to in Limerick are enraged at the bonus culture in the company along with the utter confusion as to what families will actually have to pay when the first bills land in January. The series of damaging mishaps – from the outrageous set-up and consultancy costs that only emerged under media questioning to revelations about five figure bonuses for senior managers – have left people in Limerick frustrated and angry.
“Disgracefully, when Fine Gael and the Labour Party forced through the legislation setting up this quango, they did not allow any debate in Dáil Éireann. Indeed, at that time Fianna Fáil led a walk-out from the Dáil in protest at the Government’s strategy.
“It is clear that the time has now come for an honest and fundamental debate about the role of this quango and what part it is going to play in the country’s future. We are using our Private Members’ time to call for a full review of Irish Water, with a full suspension of charges while that review is ongoing.
“Fine Gael and Labour rejected debate in the past and we can now see the full damaging impact of their decision to push ahead with flawed Irish Water plans. This week they have the chance to press the pause button on that process and facilitate a fundamental review of the organisation. I would urge FG and Labour backbenchers in Limerick who privately claim to despair at the damage Irish Water is causing to take a stand and support Fianna Fáil in our attempt to force honest debate.”
