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VIDEO: SIPTU warns Irish Water may need to be sold in order to survive

The biggest trade union in the country says Irish Water could still be sold off, despite governme...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.11 21 Nov 2014


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VIDEO: SIPTU warns Irish Water...

VIDEO: SIPTU warns Irish Water may need to be sold in order to survive

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.11 21 Nov 2014


Share this article


The biggest trade union in the country says Irish Water could still be sold off, despite government promises saying otherwise.

SIPTU says Irish Water could struggle to collect charges and end up needing to be sold in order to survive.

It is calling for a referendum to prohibit the sale of the public water supply, and says homes should be given enough free water to meet all their domestic needs.

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It says it is going to work with other unions, including those in the Right2Water campaign, but appears to have stopped short of joining the campaign for the moment.

In a statement, SIPTU's national executive council says: "The objective should be to provide every household with an adequate supply of water to meet all their domestic needs at no direct cost, while retaining the option of a tariff on non-essential use only as a conservation measure. The government should announce its intention to do this."

And the union says a referendum is the only way to go, adding: "We must have a referendum to insert a provision in the Constitution prohibiting the privatisation of the public water supply."

"Otherwise, there is a real danger that we will drift into privatisation due, for example, to the inability of Irish Water to collect its revenues. In this regard, we welcome the decision of the executive council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to support, promote and campaign for such a referendum."

Earlier today, big crowds turned out in Blackpool, Co Cork to protest against the charges.

It took place outside a retail park where the Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced 120 new jobs. The protest was organised by the We Won't Pay campaign.

Last night, Mr Kenny told the Dail that the coalition listened to the voice of the people and acted on what it heard.

But the organisers of the protest said they are unhappy with the new measures on water charges.

Spokesperson for the campaign, Councillor Mick Barry, said they want them to be abolished altogether.

This video posted on YouTube shows crowds booing Mr Kenny as he arrived.


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