Sinn Féin introduce Constitutional Amendment Bill · Sinn Féin will introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill calling for a referendum to retain control of the water services in public ownership. · If passed the Constitution would contain a new section 7 in Part 1 of Article 40. This would read: The state recognises the right of all persons to sufficient, safe and accessible water and as guardian of the common good shall defend and vindicate this right and ensure that water services and infrastructure remain in public ownership. · The reason we feel that this is necessary is that Sinn Féin attempts, through our Environment Spokesperson Brian Stanley TD, to have such a safeguard against privatisation enshrined in the 2013 Water Services Bill was rejected. · Here is what Brian Stanley said at Committee Stage of Water Services Bill : Given the fact Irish Water will be a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann and that company is earmarked for privatisation it puts Irish Water in a precarious position. While I accept the Ministers claim it is not the Governments intention to put Uisce Éireann at risk of privatisation, events move on. If one had asked a Minister in 1983 when Telecom Éireann was set up if it would be privatised down the line, he would have said it was not his intention for that to happen to the company.” · In response, Fergus ODowd, the then junior minister said: While I acknowledge and appreciate the points made by Deputies about privatisation, there is no intention on the part of the Government to do that.” · Unfortunately, such verbal commitments mean nothing, and there are growing fears that once Irish Water is set up, and the taxpayer has paid for it, and households are being billed for water, that the company will indeed be put up for sale. The only way to guarantee that will not take place is to introduce the constitutional change we are proposing. · This proposal is another part of our commitment to ensure that the water services remains in the hands of the Irish people and ensure that all citizens are entitled to sufficient, safe and accessible water.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:02:33 +0000
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