Ireland's Joint Water Committee 2017 groveling award

Those who have been following Ireland’s controversial Water issue for the past few decades would know about how much EU political interference has been applied to pressurise Ireland into bringing in domestic water metering and charges. They would also know about the slavish willingness of some Government Ministers, mainstream media and individuals to kowtow to Brussels' diktats and even to perhaps misinform the public.

In recent years Ireland’s water issue brought up many examples of this proverbial Irish trait of cap tipping or forelock tugging to foreign masters.  However, a recent ‘Joint Committee on Future Funding of Domestic Water Charges’ meeting on the 15th February 2017 showed EU Commissioner, Mr. Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea finger wagging and threatening fire and brimstone on the Irish nation if it did not abide by European Law.

In light of the above we thought it appropriate to remember this memorable event by awarding Jan O’Sullivan, Labour Party, best groveling award for outstanding ability in the field.

Finally all that remains to be said is we must give credit to Minister Simon Coveney for managing, hand picking and directing allparties involved. It goes without saying that the resulting impasse of 10/10 was no coincidence.

Jan O'Sullivan TD asking EU Commissioner, Mr. Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea whether it would be alright if the committee run it's draft report by the EU Commission before presenting it to the Dáil. 

 

Full transcript: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/FFJ2017021500002?opendocument#B00100

Fianna Fáil submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future Funding of Domestic Water Services

Rather than give interpretations of Fianna Fáil's submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services,  we thought it best to include the whole document so you can read it for yourselves. 

Barry Cowen with Fianna Fáil Committee members

You may be aware that the 20 member Joint Committee on Funding Domestic Water Services has reached what seems to be an impasse, 10/10 on whether to totally scrap water charges and metering or not, (see breakdown here),  unless one of the four nonpartisan members of the Committee who have sided with Fine Gael's proposal i.e Jan O'Sullivan, Labour, Grace O'Sullivan, Green Party, Noel Grealish, Ind, and chairman Pádraig O Céidigh change their vote. 

There now is an extension to the deadline until Monday week,  to try to finalise a report which will then go to a vote in the Dáil.  However, there are some rumours that this deadline may not be definitive and might be stretched out for weeks, even to May according to the Irish Examiner.

We believe that it is ridiculous to drag this process out any longer.   If any of the above mentioned members of the Committee had regard for democracy they should agree with this proposal and send it to Dáil Éireann for a democratic decision.   Let the Dáil decide.

In our opinion the intervention of EU Commissioners and Fine Gael Ministers is disingenuous,  misleading and bordering on subverting the democratic process.  They are merely putting forward their interpretation of EU law with the intention of frightening people into submission.   It would be ridiculous if it had to go as far as the European Court of Justice (CJEU) for adjudication but in relation to EU law the CJEU is the only arbiter not EU Commissioners or Simon Coveney.

Finally let us say that we broadly agree with Fianna Fáil's submission.  Our major reservation would be around theIrish Water Ltd and water infrastructure.  However, that is not part of the remit of the Committee and can wait for another day.

 

Fianna Fáil Submission March 3 2017

Fine Gael willing to squander billions of euro to save face

Having already wasted 650 million euros on unnecessary domestic water meters, Fine Gael are now insisting on squandering a further 300 to 500 million Euros to complete an unnecessary and highly controversial job, using an excuse that private metering is the best way of preventing excessive use.  

However, they have heard from many quarters, including Scottish Water (see video below)  that District metering can deliver the same result for a tiny fraction of this cost.  

Rather than admit they got it completely wrong they are now hell-bent on a monumental, cynical face saving exercise.

This is not just shameful, it is bordering on CRIMINAL.

February 8th 2017 meeting of Committee on Future Funding of Domestic Water Alan Farrell, Fine Gael TD,  admits to hearing from all quarters how district metering can work effectively. Trouble was he was only 100,000 or so out on his estimate water meter figures.

Full Oireachtas Commettee meeting with Scottish and Welsh Water