Inishowen Groundbreaking Agreement on Water Meters

July 18, 2015

John Gildea (left) MBC Builders  shaking hands with James Quigley (right) Inishowen  group — John Gildea (left) MBC Builders shaking hands with James Quigley (right) Inishowen group

An agreement between MBC Builders (Gildea), Ballybofey and Inishowen groups opposed to water meters has been reached following a meeting held in An Grianan Hotel, Burt, Co Donegal on Thursday 16th July. The meeting came about as a result of John Gildea, MBC Builders, recently contacting James Quigley, a local anti water charge campaigner from Buncrana.

MBC Builders is one of two subcontractors contracted by GMC Sierra Ltd to install meter ready boundary boxes in place of old water stopcocks in the area. GMC Sierra Ltd have the main contract from Irish Water to install water meters throughout the north/north west of Ireland from Mayo to Donegal.

At the meeting John Gildea of MBC Builders agreed that no work will be carried out on properties in Inishowen which have a sign up, indicating that they do not want a meter. The Inishowen groups agreed that they will not oppose MBC Builders working on properties which don't have a sign up. The agreement is subject to the following conditions;

1 MBC Builders will not work on properties who have a sign up indicating that they do not want a water meter installed..

2 MBC Builders personnel will not try to coax or by any mean persuade any residents who does not want a meter or who has a sign up indicating so, to change their minds .

3 MBC Builders will notify an anti water charge campaigner at least the night before work starts in any particular area.

4 All work will be carried out within socially accepted times 7.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri and 8am to 1pm Sat.

James Quigley emphasised that this agreement is between us and MBC Builders. It is all about 'signs' on properties whose owners do not want a meter. If people have a sign up they will not get a meter or boundary box. There are some complicated technical issues in respect of work carried out by sub contractors and that carried out by GMC Sierra Ltd. We will be clarifying these issues later in our web page, the media and public meetings. We will also clarify other important issues that came up including the possibility that another contractor may come in after MBC Builders and finish the job or that this agreement paves the way for contractors to complete their job in Inishowen.

For some time now campaign groups in the area have been calling for a sensible approach such as this to the water meter controversy. We have repeatedly contacted Irish Water, GMC Sierra and An Garda Siochána to try to set up such an agreement. As far back as February we had a very successful public meeting in Buncrana where campaigners from Moneymore, Drogheda gave a talk on their successful agreement between themselves and contractors. I believe everyone in the packed audience that night were in agreement that we should go down this route.

I am glad we persisted and I am pleased that John Gildea of MBC Builders finally sees that an agreement such as this is the sensible way forward. This is an agreement that satisfies the needs of both sides. It is based on mutual trust and has already been proven in Moneymore and Cork and other parts Donegal that it can be a civilised solution to a difficult problem. All protest groups and Inishowen people should now get behind this new dispensation, give it a fair chance and demonstrate to one and all what can be achieved by reasoned negotiation.

Inishowen Survey Will Be Undertaken By Anti Water Charge Groups

June 30, 2015

Elizabeth Arnett, Head of Communications for Irish Water stated on Newstalk today that she would investigate complaints from Buncrana Together. A spokesperson for Buncrana Together, James Quigley, who put the questions to Ms Arnett stated that local groups will do a detailed survey of Inishowen areas which have already been metered. This survey will then be presented to Irish Water.

On the Pat Kenny Newstalk radio show today Tuesday 30th 2015, Elizabeth Arnett, Irish Water's head of communications responded to questions sent in by James Quigley, a member of Buncrana Together (see questions below). She confirmed that all residents should receive fourteen days notice prior to meter installation, followed by two days and finally a knock on the door informing the occupier the water about to be turned off and meter installed. She also confirmed that work should not be started before the recognised starting time.

On being informed by James Quigley that that was not happening in the Inishowen Peninsula Ms Arnett agreed to investigate the complaints that were supplied. See below supplied questions from Buncrana Together.

Although in the programme there were some very interesting questions and some interesting and questionable answers Elazabeth Arnett was let off the hook by Pat Kenny. In some instances not only did Pat not investigate topics but many times he intervened and changed the subject, leading proceedings away from issues. Below is an extract of Buncrana Together's questions and Ms Arnett's answers:

Question 1
BT: "We have evidence of Irish Water sub contractors installing meters at unsocial times before their own stated commencing time of 7.30am. People wake up in morning and find a meter installed. Is this not illegal."

Arnett: "I wouldn't like to think we have contractors very early in the morning disturbing people. So if that is the case, if people have been disturbed by construction noise very early in the morning we would encourage them to ring us and let us know and we would deal with that."

Bit of a fudge, don't you think? Nothing about evidence, nothing about it being legal or not. However, she does say if that is the case 'we would deal with that'. Well Elizabeth, Irish Water have been informed on many occasions. Irish Water will no doubt be informed again when the survey results will be forwarded to all relevant parties.

Question 2
BT: "In Inishowen Irish Water sub contractors have been installing meters
without any notice or warnings to householders. Irish Water have stated
on their site that householders will get 2 weeks notice with an
approximate starting date, then a 2 day notice prior to starting and
then Irish Water personnel will knock on doors to let people know they
are starting. Why is Irish Water not abiding by their own protocols?"

Arnett: "Well we should not be doing that. So if its not happening I'll look into it and make sure that it is. Your are quite right people are entitled to get notice if we are going to be installing meters particularly when and if we have to limit the supply into the property, which is probable for about 15 minutes. None the less people should be getting the notice and I will look into that."

Well that seems quite clear, Notices have to be given. However, Irish Water have been supplied with information to the contrary by Buncrana Together and Moville Community Against Water Meters, many times and it has continued. The organisers of the survey will be interested to know what Elizabeth and Irish Water will do when our complaints are substantiated. For instance, what will they do about all the meters installed on properties who did not want them and did not get notified?

Question 3
BT: "Why does Irish Water not recognise No Meter Here signs on houses?
These houses had no contract with Irish Water?"

Arnett: Well there isn't a question of contract. When a change such as this is applied as a matter of law, then there isn't a question of contract. That just doesn't come into it."

Pat Kenny, for some reason, interjected at this point and the two of them went on some hypothetical ramblings, on a topic where neither he nor Ms Arnett were experts. The question of Irish Water not respecting people's wishes, where householders clearly demonstrated this by a 'No Meter Sign' and not having or wanting a contract with Irish Water is very relevant and one which is very much at the heart of the controversy on water charges. For instance why is Irish Water so determined to get people to sign a contract with them? Is this not a contract? Why is it that Irish Water is forcing meters on people who do not want them? Irish Water, since it's formation under the Water Services Act 2003, along with the Government have done every conceivable thing, including bribes, threats and questionable data collection, to make householders sign up with Irish Water.

Pat Kenny had a great opportunity to do the people of this county a favour and delve into some of the meatier questions which the Government and Irish Water have not answered. Instead he demonstrated that his show is just entertainment, a make belief, giving the impression of impartiality. This was very much demonstrated by a question from Tim in Sandymount. He had to ask twice about where Irish Water was getting their data on householders. Even after the questioner ask for a second time saying that he felt his answer was not addressed, Elizabeth Arnett with the help of Pat Kenny was able to again sidestep the question, saying legislation, landlords, people phoning up and a variety of ways..

All in all, the interview is very interesting to listen to, especially to someone of a critical mind. It is interesting to hear how Pat Kenny and Ms Arnett perform. In between the subliminal messages of 'register', 'leaks', 'lead pipes' and '€100 euro grant', there were some interesting morsels. Sometimes it's in the small print, or a word here and a phrase there. Like Ms Arnett rubbishing Steven Donnelly, TD, figures in a question about whether the money Irish Water will recoup from customers will cover collection of that money. Or when Pat Kenny ask about how the meter detects leaks, is it volumetric or can it detect leaks down to the hour. Ms Arnett said actually we can record data down to the hour and we can reset meters to do various things. Isn't that interesting? Various things!

Arnett's Answers Not Acceptable

With the knowledge that approx 1000 meters have been illegally installed ( no notification, no notice of water being disconnected, vans with no logos, installing before 7.30am and abuse of residents ) from Muff, through Quigley's Pt through Redcastle through Moville through Greencastle and on to Gleneely, it is now past time that something was done about this state of affairs.

It is not acceptable to allow Irish Water to flout their own stated regulations and protocols and to allow them to ride roughshod over our residents and do nothing about it. They must not be allowed to abuse and threaten residents. We must bring them to book. We will hold Elizabeth Arnett to her word.

Survey Will Be Undertaken

On that basis Buncrana Together will now, with help other groups, carry out a detailed survey of the mentioned areas.

The results of this detailed survey will be presented to Irish Water, all elected representatives and An Garda Siochána. We will demand that the wrongs be rectified forthwith and to the residents satisfaction.

Elizabeth Arnett and Irish Water will be held to her promise of investigating the incidents. Irish Water have to be held to account for their actions. We have to ensure that the least they should do is to abide by their own regulations, treat the residents with respect, work within the law and deal swiftly with all abusive Irish Water personnel who have not done so.

A support meeting in Ard Na Gula Duibhe estate Moville, Co Donegal in May this year.   Meters were installed without any notices from Irish Water.  Irish Water installers started work before 7.30 am.  They abused and threatened a 77 y… — *A support meeting in Ard Na Gula Duibhe* estate Moville, Co Donegal in May this year. Meters were installed without any notices from Irish Water. Irish Water installers started work before 7.30 am. They abused and threatened a 77 year old woman . See Irish Water Meter Installers Insult And Abuse Ard Na Gula Duibhe 77 Year Old Resident

Newstalk article http://www.newstalk.com/LISTEN:-Irish-Water-answer-your-questions

Latest On Irish Water's Controversy in Inishowen Co Donegal

June 12, 2015

The Installation of water meters in Inishowen was suspended on May 21, 2015 and to date both GMC Sierra Ltd, owned by Denis O'Brien, and Patrick Gildea, building contractor from Ballybofey, have not resumed work. GMC Sierra Ltd is responsible for installing meters in 'Meter Ready' boxes and Patrick Gildea is responsible for preparing the 'Meter Ready' boxes.

David and Golliath

There are always two sides to every story, however, Buncrana Together will make no bones about rooting for the underdog in this controversy since Denis O'Brien's GMC Sierra Ltd and the unlimited resources in the coffers of Irish Water have made sure that they got their fair share of media coverage. To counteract some pretty biased reporting by some media it is only fair that the anti meter protesters get the opportunity to tell their side of the story.
However, in the interest of clarity, and in case you may not have read Irish Water's accusations and reasons for suspending meter installations in Inishowen, it may be best to show some of the newspaper articles coverage of the controversy.

Donegal Now - A Biased and Unprofessional Article

What only could be described as a biased, unprofessional article was in Donegal Now on Friday 15th May, 2015, Up to 15 protestors surround lone Irish water worker in Moville | Donegal Now (click link to see article). This article is so controversial in so many ways that Buncrana Together will devote an article specifically dealing with the controversy surrounding it.

Standoff in Manorcunningham Donegal News May 21, 2015

Threats and intimidation halt water meter installation

By Cronan Scanlon

Threats and intimidation by water protesters have been blamed for the loss of 50 jobs across Donegal this week.
On Monday, three companies were instructed by the main contractor, GMC/Sierra, to ‘stand down’ operations as it was no longer safe to do so.
One Ballybofey-based meter installation sub-contractor confirmed he laid off 25 men on Monday as well as a further six this morning.m Two more contractors were forced to lay-off a further 20.
A spokeswoman for Irish Water (IW) blamed the move on a number of instances of “targeted aggression” against installers in the Glenties and Inishowen areas.
“The safety of our staff and the staff of our contractors is of paramount importance to both Irish Water and our contractor, GMC Sierra. This work will be rescheduled at a later stage in the project to enable works to be carried out in a safe manner,” the spokeswoman said.
It is believed they came to the decision following an “almost riot situation” during a

Monday May 17th stand-off in Manorcunningham

stand-off at an estate in Manorcunningham on Monday. However, Gardai have also confirmed they are actively investigating a more sinister incident in which an Irish Water surveyor was “approached by a number of men” in Moville last week.
Garda Superintendent, Eugene McGovern, would not elaborate on the specifics of the incident which occurred on the morning of Thursday, May 14. However, it is believed the man was held against his will for almost an hour and had his ID photographed before being released.
See original article in Donegal News

Ok so that's the media's Story. Now For Protesters side of the story

Read these three Buncrana Together articles to acquaint yourselves with what Irish Water meter installers were doing in Inishowen:
Irish Water Meter Installers Insult And Abuse Ard Na Gula Duibhe 77 Year Old Resident
Irish Water in Moville Co DonegalTreatment of Woman Appalling
Buncrana Against Irish Water Press Release Irish Water Insulting Inishowen Community

Highland Radio Podcast

Michael Mooney member of Donegal Water Warriors on Highland Radio speaking out against Irish Water allegations. He has never witnessed any intimidation of Irish Water Workers. He was present both in Manorcunningham and Movile.

Click on image and listen to podcast.

Highland Radio Podcast

Enda Craig Moville Community Against Water Meters on Highland Radio does not accept Irish Water written apology.
Click on image and listen to podcast

Enda Craig Reply To Donegal Now Online Article In response to Donegal Now article May 15, 2015, “Up to 15 protestors surround lone Irish water worker in Moville”

A substantial number of people were invited to a meeting at Ard Na Gula Duibhe housing estate in Moville to stand in solidarity with the residents who had meters illegally installed.

Statements were read out condemning the actions and behaviour of the Irish Water meter installers by residents and members present.
As people left to make their way home they identified an Irish Water van parked in the Malin Road. A number of people approached the driver’s window where it was seen he was busy writing. He lowered his window and stated he was an Irish Water surveyor and not a meter installer. He showed his I.D. when requested and was asked why he was driving an Irish Water van with no company logo markings on the sides. He was told this was illegal and that he was in breach of his own company’s rules and regulations. He made no response. The people there requested him to take a message to his bosses that the breaching of all the various rules and regulations had to stop and most importantly there was to be no more verbal abuse of any residents. He agreed to convey the message and at this point he decided to leave. He started his van and left. This ended the interaction with the Irish Water employee.

We utterly and completely refute the version of events put forward in the Donegal Now online article “Up to 15 protestors surround lone Irish water worker in Moville” published on Friday 15th May 2015. It is a million miles from the truth and the reality of what actually happened.

It is very disappointing that Donegal Now would publish such a serious article with so many inaccuracies from an anonymous source.

People who were actually there would have had no difficulty providing an accurate account of what actually happened had they been contacted prior to publication.

Buncrana Against Irish Water Strongly Denies Irish Water's Intimidation Claims

Due to continued and persistent rumours of intimidation, harassment, disrespectful and abusive behaviour of Irish Water meter installation workers towards the communities in the Inishowen Peninsula, the cessation of the Metering Programme is very welcome news. If indeed the work has been discontinued because of the abhorrent behaviour of Irish Water Teams, then the outcome of any investigation on this obvious issue would be greatly anticipated.

That the alleged incident on the Malin Road, Moville on Thursday 14th May should have played any part in the decision to suspend Irish Water meter installations in the Inishowen peninsula is beyond comprehension. In an activity as controversial as these water meter installations, all “incidents” must be viewed with a jaundiced eye. No protester/resident that we are aware of knows of any incident of harassment or intimidation of any water meter installer. We direct you to the case of the 77 year old lady in Ard Na Guala Duibhe who received scandalous verbal abuse from an Irish Water installer at 6.45 am. Also a young lady from Carrownaffe who received similar abuse from a water meter installer on the morning of Wednesday 29th April at approximately 10:30am. To date we are not aware of any action having been taken in relation to these incidents.
No-one that we know of in the whole Moville area received any prior notice of the impending meter installations. In fact we are aware of a number of people receiving notification of installation weeks after the meter had already been installed. All meter ready houses have been fitted with water meters breaking the following Irish Water rules and regulations:

1. Installing meters prior to official starting time of 7.30am.
2. No notification of impending meter installation (rules are firstly 2 weeks then 2 days and finally installers must knock on each door to inform you a meter will be installed and water disconnected).
3. Using vans with no company logos.
4. Disconnecting water without prior notice to residents
5. Meter installer refusing to speak to residents (passive aggressive behaviour).
6. Ignoring “No Meter Here” poster in resident’s window.
7. Refusing to stop installation of meters when requested.

This cavalier disregard for their own rules and regulations and abuse of residents has been reported to Irish Water and the relevant authorities without any response.