#Seanad; Labour (on the left, in green) votes with opp to approve anti-privatisation referendum on Irish Water pic.twitter.com/gMGjaVWW1p
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 5, 2014
Alan Kelly: “I accept the motion that was passed by [the #Seanad] earlire on… will bring this message to the Taoiseach” — Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 5, 2014
Back in the #Seanad, Marc MacSharry describes @PhilHoganEU as a “liar” (under privilege), won’t withdraw; water debate abandoned for 15 mins
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 5, 2014
…and now the #Seanad is suspended until 1:45 as a result of Marc MacSharry’s interruptions — Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 5, 2014
Yikes.
Seanad adjourned again, until 2:15pm. (No, really.)
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 5, 2014
Ah here.
Via Gavan Reilly
Previously: They Still Think It’s Only About The Money
I’m as opposed to the privatisation of Irish water as anyone but sticking something so specific to a single item it in the constitution seems mad to me.
It’s water, it might be a single item but its probably the most important single item there is
Agree. Indicates clearly that the government know they’s lost the electorate’s trust. I’m quite happy about that acknowledgement…. but the chaos we’re witnessing here is shocking.
I agree. I think the Constitution is more about the ideals, not the specifics. Ok if they were to say no privatisation of ANY state-owned bodies etc, but to name one is just an odd use of it. I can see why people are clamouring for it: our politicians are completely untrustworthy, but it’s a pity that we have to misuse the Constitution to make sure the fuppers stick to what’s right.
you are correct
It wouldnt be unprecedented though, we’ve put in enforceable clauses on issues that are arguably far more politically sensitive/flexible in how the country could deal with them – the divorce clause, abortion clause, abortion information clause etc.
Article 45 is one of the few articles that are un-actionable and that’s the one that outlines the principles the state should be guided by.
This is worthless. The Senate is a joke.
pointless pointless pointless
The unwinding of the coalition begins
popcorn?
yes please. pass the skins there like a good lad.
Well, I bet the Government didn’t see this coming when the Green Party started calling for a referendum! :P
The Green Party were the party that first agreed to privatization. It’s utter hypocrisy and opportunism on their part.
In 2008, the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, Green Party leader and former Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1994–1995 during the water charges conflict, said that domestic water charges will not be introduced during the lifetime of the government. He also said water shortages will be a key issue that Ireland will have to grapple with in the future. The Minister said there were other ways of tackling potential shortages which have already left some larger urban areas – particularly Dublin – struggling to meet demand during prolonged dry spells. The main focus of government policy would be to reduce the leakages from main water supply pipes.[34]
In October 2009, however, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party agreed on a Renewed Programme for Government, which pledged to introduce domestic water charges based on a system of a free allowance per household, with charges only on usage in excess of the allowance. In October 2010, the administration’s ‘National Recovery Plan 2010-2014’ pledged that metering would form part of charges. Metering was to be introduced by 2014. As part of the EC-ECB-IMF Programme of Assistance to Ireland, agreed in November 2010, the Coalition agreed to the introduction of domestic water charges in 2012/2013.
“The Green Party were the party that first agreed to privatisation.”
Did you mean to mention privatisation somewhere in the second two paragraphs? Because agreeing to water charges and agreeing to privatisation of water utilities are two very different things.
Thanks, I was going to ask the same :)
Are there? The greens are counting angels on the head of a needle. They agreed to commodify water.
That is absolute nonsense and is a blindly black-or-white way of looking at the subject. Regulation of the use of water to what is necessary and also the water usage data collected by meters are both good things. It’ll mean people will be less wasteful of what is and will become an ever more precious resource and the data collected by the meters will help to pinpoint where leaks are happening and will help in the planning of what and where to build water infrastructure in the future.
+1
Could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure the Green Party have never advocated privatisation of the water supply. They have been consistent on advocating metering, because it’s bloody sensible to charge people more if they use more water.
Look at all the Green Party TDs now work in the private sector. They’re still getting their ludicrous pensions. They betray every cause they advocate to fill their pockets with money (the incinerator plant, corrib gas field, etc. etc.). They commidified water, nature gave us water, and they wanted to make money off it.
Yeah, no amount of frothing is going to make being in favour of water charges necessarily the same thing as being in favour of privatisation. I guess nature gave us a costly infrastructure groaning at the seams, too?
@AmIStill…. your gas!
Do you charge for the bubbles?
It’s a bit crazy that a government who are delivering the fastest economic growth in Europe and have almost gotten Ireland back to some semblance of normality should put themselves in jeopardy over something so THOROUGHLY avoidable.
*sigh*
Dead right. It’s almost as infuriating for their supporters as it is for everyone else.
;)
G’wan McSharry whoever the fupp you are!
Phil Hogan is the sh*t on my boot I’d not waste water washing off…. just bung it in the fire. Or take off and nuke the boot from orbit, it’d be the only way to be sure.
He’s Ray McSharry’s son. FF Senator.
Gwan my BUMHOLE, though I agree with him on this.
That shower, thanks :)
Marc MacSharry….oh just another member of Dynastic Fianna Fail…
If they think they’re going to get any political capital out of the water charges fiasco, they can (wet) dream on…
Really, they should go away and stop embarrassing themselves
Wish you could follow posts without having to comment.
+1
Water charges, blasphemy, eliminating things that get in the Cabinet’s way, sure, a referendum on those can be done.
Repealing the 8th amendment? No, that’s way too complex to do. Even though we’ll be doing two or three others at the same time.
/facepalm
Who has said it would be too complex?