Your PPS number and Irish Water.

Via solicitor Simon McGarr:

When challenged on how it has the right to ask for people’s PPS numbers, Irish Water has said that it is a specified body under statute. This is a reference to Section 20 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014….

[However] This use is subject to prior agreement with Minister for Social Protection….

No such agreement between the Minister for Social Protection and Irish Water is anywhere shown on the Irish Water website or on the Department of Social Protection website.
However, the Department of Social Protection has published a statement from Irish Water on its website saying that the agreement is still not in place, as of September 2014.
“This arrangement has not been finalized at this time but we are engaging with the DSP”
If there is no agreement in place with the Minister, on what statutory basis is the collection and processing of PPS numbers taking place?

Anyone?

Irish Water, PPSNs and the missing Minister’s agreement (Simon McGarr Solicitors)

Thanks Brian S

Senior managers in Irish Water will get €420,000 for car allowances this year as the number of staff getting premium benefits continues to grow.
The Irish Examiner can confirm the number of managers getting the annual €10,500 car allowance has risen by 50% since January.
Some 40 senior managers will now get the annual payment, Irish Water said.
Irish Water has faced criticism over revelations that managers next year who earn a “need improvement” rating will get an extra 9% payment alongside their mid-€90,000 salaries.

€420k car perk for water bosses (Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner)

‘I’ve been waiting two months on my Irish Water test results’ (Independent.ie)

Feargal Quinn prepares Bill to halt Irish Water PPS demands (Irish Times)

Irish government has found the Irish people’s breaking point with Irish Water debacle (irish Central)

Illustration: What Goes Up

Ian Croft (left) and Luke Dunne, creators of the Irish Pot Water Challenge.

Ian Croft and Luke Dunne encouraging people this afternoon to take the Irish Pot Water Challenge and meet at the Dail and support the Anti Irish Water movement by banging on a pot or pan outside Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin

Get out in that kitchen.

You never do nothin’ to save your doggone soul.

Dancing optional.

Update:

Alan Shatter getting expertly potted by Luke this afternoon on Morehampton Road, Dublin.

G’wan the Pot ‘n’ Pan boys.

(Sasko Lazarov/Photocall ireland)

Abraham Maslow‘s Hierarchy of Needs meets Irish Water.

Seems fair.

Via CurtainQueen

John Tierney outside Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin this afternoon

“It was a very good meeting with the minister [Alan Kelly]. We covered all of the issues. The heartening thing was that he recognised the scale of what we have been asked to do…
…He wants a renewed emphasis on all issues to do with the customer. Obviously in relation to the political representations from TDs and councillors because they are representing people. So we had a very good discussion. He recognised we have taken on a very difficult job and we are going to continue to do what is required of us, of a utility.”

Irish Water’s  John Tierney following a ‘crunch’ meeting with environment minister Alan Kelly.

Irish Water boss John Tierney: ‘I haven’t been asked to resign my position’ (Daniel McConnell, IIndependent.ie)

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

Meanwhile..

“It’s an unjust law. I obey every law (and) I understand the reasons for it. I pay my water charge, the nett charge, but, until such time as (Irish Water) give me a coherent reason why I should hand over my PPS number, I’m not giving them the PPS number, and I am entitled to deduct the allowance – no doubt they’ll come after me for that, and let them.
“And let the legalities or illegalities of my action be thrashed out there if it should come for a confrontation in court.”

Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea TD on Limerick’s Live 95Fm today

Sido asks:

“Anyone know what the deal is with this story?  I’m on a group water scheme, so don’t get any of this hassle, but this sounds fairly sinister…”

Anyone?

O’Dea prepared to fight Irish Water over PPS number; FG see it as ‘politicking’ (BreakingNews.ie)