Tag Archives: Irish Water

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Enda Kenny and Fionan Sheahan of the Irish Independent at the Dublin Web Summit this afternoon

“So it’s a case of having listened very carefully to people, acknowledged that things were not done, in all cases, in the way they should have been, and move on from there.”

Enda Kenny this morning

“I am not inclined to hold a referendum. I do think it is important here that we should look at the question of strengthening the law. Obviously no political party in Dail Eireann has a proposition to privatise Irish Water. It is already enshrined in law. It will not be privatised.”

Enda Kenny this afternoon

We have listened carefully to public anger over water charges – Taoiseach (Niall O’Connor, Independent.ie)

Taoiseach Rules Out Referendum (Fionan Sheahan, Independent.ie)

The Irish Water debacle: why the State is heading towards being ungovernable (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)

Previously: Whose Water Is It Anyway

Pic MerrionStreet.ie

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Enda Kenny this morning

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was questioned by journalists on his way into a Cabinet meeting this morning about Irish Water.

It followed reports in de papers that the Government is considering introducing a cap of around €300 for water charges for families with adult children – €124 below the €424 charge set to be imposed on those who fail to register for the utility.

From the ‘doorstepping’.

Unidentified journalist: Páraic Gallagher: “Sorry, Taoiseach, you keep saying clarity and confidence for people. Many people say they just won’t pay this. Would the Government consider getting Revenue involved and forcing people to pay?”

Enda Kenny: “The Government will obviously make its decision, a statement, next week. So it’s a case of having listened very carefully to people, having acknowledged that things were not done in our case as the way they should have been.”

VIDEO: Enda Kenny – Government will make a statement to restore clarity and confidence (Newstalk)

Thanks Ruairi Carroll

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Part of an email sent by the head of the Commission of Energy Regulation’s Water Division Karen Kavanagh to Irish Water chief executive John Tierney, and others, on July 15 – outlining how “the CER does not see any basis for Irish Water to revoke a customer’s entitlement to their allowances”.

What are we?

Donkeys?

Yesterday, journalist Seán McCárthaigh, of The Sunday Times, reported how people who fail to register for their free Irish Water allowances will be forced to pay an annual bill of almost €425, irrespective of their household size.

But, he explained, this was something the Commission of Energy Regulation was against back in July.

So what changed?

Mr McCárthaigh reported [behind paywall]:

“Asked about the U-turn this weekend, a CER spokesman said: “The email pre-dates our relevant water charges decision, which was subject to public consultation. In our decision paper we decided we would apply a default tariff with no allowances.”

“Document released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that in a meeting with CER officials on September 5, Irish Water promised to consider “alternative ‘carrot’ rather than stick approaches” to encourage customers to register their household details early. It has also emerged that Irish Water will seek permission from CER for its first-fix-free policy for water leakages to be limited to households fitted with water meters.”

“In a further restriction on the number of customers who will be eligible for a free repair, Irish Water is planning to fix only external leaks, even though many leaks are within houses and apartments such as leaks in cisterns. Irish Water has estimated that up to 10% of households have some type of leak.”

Email in its entirety here

Via Seán McCarthaigh

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90360534O’Connell Street, Dublin

Via Conor Humphries, Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

athlone

Athlone town, Co Westmeath.

Thanks Anne Kyle

sligo

Sligo town, Co Sligo.

Thanks RW

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Waterford town, Co Waterford.

Thanks Murtles

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Dundalk, Co Louth

Via James Reilly

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Phibsborough, Dublin 7 (top) and Kathleen Burne from same.

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

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Portarlington, Co Laois.

Via Barry Keegan

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The Square, Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Via Cllr Reada Cronin

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Navan Road, Cabra Dublin.

Thanks Simon Geraghty

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tallaght

Protestors passing Tallaght hospital (above) and Tallaght by-pass (top).

Thanks Ciaran and Rita Ann Harrold

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Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

Thanks Stephen Browne

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Bandon, Co Cork.

Via Cormac O’D

atagneschurch

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Protesters arriving at St Agnes’ Church, Dublin 12 (top) while the end of the march remains at Our Lady’s Church (above) half a km away.

Thanks Frilly Keane

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Swords, Co Dublin.

Thanks Graeme Kelly

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Galway city, Co Galway.

Thanks Barry Devlin and GMIT Students’ Union

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Blessington, Co Wicklow.

Via Glenn Fitzpatrick

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Ringsend, Dublin 4.

Thanks Norm

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Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Thanks Ciaran

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Market Square, Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Via Enda Costello

Marching? Snaps to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie.

Meanwhile…

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Defiant Detroit today.

The Detroit Water Brigade demo in solidarity with Irish water protestors.

Live stream here