Ireland's Joint Water Committee 2017 groveling award

March 5, 2017

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

Do Water Meters Reduce Domestic Consumption?

March 1, 2017

This 2010 study written by Dr Chad Staddon, University of the West of England, Bristol, England, asking whether water metering reduces domestic water consumption is a very apt topic in light of today's 10/10 split decision of the Oireachtas Select Committee on the Funding of Domestic Water Services.

In what was a controversial and heated conclusion meeting, the Oireachtas Committee failed to reach agreement. On the one side those favouring charges for excessive use which by the way would necessitate metering, were 6 Fine Gael members along with Noel Grealish, Ind, Jan O'Sullivan, Lab, Grace O'Sullivan, GP, and Chairman Pádraig O Céidigh. On the other side voting to abolish water charges and metering were 5 Fianna Fáil, 2 Sinn Féin members along with Paul Murphy, AAA-PBP, Thomas Pringle, Ind, and Seamus Healy, WUAG.

Earlier in the day, prior to what was supposed to be a final meeting of the Oireachtas Committee, Simon Coveney, Housing Minister, made a statement saying that he would not introduce legislation to permanently end charges citing EU 'severe fines' and advice from the Attorney General. The minister's statement angered opposition political parties opposed to water charges and metering. Fianna Fáil claimed that Mr Coveney was breaking a'confidence and supply' arrangement which ensures the minority Government's survival. According to RTE News both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are to table position papers by Friday and the Oireachtas Committee will meet again next Tuesday.

Do Water Meters Reduce Domestic Consumption?: a summary of available literature

Study's Abstract
"At the present time 30% of UK households nationwide are on water meters and household consumption stands at approximately 150 litres/person/day (lpd), slightly more than Western European averages, but significantly less than North American or even Australian levels. Largely out of concern for the long-term effects of climate change on water supply, but also out of the notion that metering is “the fairest way to pay”, the UK government is currently trying to build a consensus around the idea of legislating compulsory metering for the nation’s 28 million households. However, there is much confusion as to the actual objectives to be served by such a policy, estimated to cost in excess of £3 billion. This paper presents the best available current research on water metering around the world, with a special emphasis on European, North American and Commonwealth comparator nations. In summary, the research suggests that there is little evidence that compulsory universal metering can achieve either the water conservation or social equity goals articulated by the government. The author concludes that policymakers need to think much more carefully about metering technologies and the purposes they are intended to serve."

Source: http://www.heednet.info/metering-defraHEEDnet.pdf

Irish Water Meter Installers Insult And Abuse Ard Na Gula Duibhe 77 Year Old Resident

May 31, 2015

Ard Na Gula Duibhe estate in Moville, Inishowen, Co Donegal completely metered by GMC Sierra Ltd installers on May 5th without the resident's knowledge, without their consent and without being notified. One 77 year old resident who did notice them at 6.45am was abused. The installer shouted into her face "your poster is a joke and you are a joke".

Statement from Mrs Rose Boyle of 15 Ard Na Gula Duibhe, Moville

"My name is Mrs Rose Boyle of 15 Ard Na Gula Duibhe, Moville. I am 77 years of age and I suffer from diabetes. On the morning of May 5th at 6.45am I noticed from my front room window an unmarked white van outside of my house and one man kneeling down at my water valve. I went outside and approached the man and asked him several times what he was doing. He ignored me and continued working. Suddenly another man got out of the unmarked van and very quickly approached me. he put his face right up against mine and shouted loudly "what's your problem?" I said if he is installing a water meter I want him to stop and I pointed to the 'No Water Meter Here' poster clearly visible on my front room window. He shouted into my face "You're poster is a joke and you are a joke." I immediately felt very frightened and intimidated. It took all the strength that I had left to go back inside my house where I have to admit I became very upset. This should not have happened to me."

Statement from Ard Na Gula Duibhe Residents

Mr Eddie Farren spoke on behalf of residents "Mrs Bolye is one of the oldest and most respected residents of this estate. This outrageous treatment of her by the Irish Water meter installers is unacceptable and will have to be investigated. It has to be condemned by all right thinking people.

No one in our estate knew that we had a meters installed even though we all had 'No Meter Posters' up on our windows. We were not notified by Irish Water. One resident Patrick Mc Gilloway, no 1, had no water for 2 days until he investigated his stop valve and found that it had been switched off and had a meter installed.

We call on our public representatives to insist on an investigation as to how this was allowed to happen in the first instance. Mrs Boyle is due a personal apology from Irish Water, as indeed are rest of the residents of this estate who have had water meters installed without proper notification and without permission."

Enda Craig, Moville Anti Water Charges group

Rules And Agreement Broken by Irish Water Meter Installers

Enda Craig, Moville Anti Water Charges, said that every facet of this incident is synonymous with abuse. This will be reported to all the relevant authorities especially irish water and An Garda Síochána. We are calling for an immediate and independent investigation into this affair. Irish Water must extend an unconditional personal apology to Mrs. Boyle. Also we demand that all water meters illegally installed without proper notification, both here and in the rest of the Inishowen peninsula must be removed.

Mr Craig said :

"1. Irish Water agreed every resident would receive 2 weeks notice, then a 2 days notice and then the installers would knock on doors to advise residents of the imminent water meter installation. None of that happened on this estate.

2. Irish Water meter installers are permitted to work between 7.30am and 7.30pm. In Mrs Boyle's case installers were working at 6.45am. How long before that were they in Ard Na Gula Duibhe Estate?

3. The first installer refused to acknowledge Mrs Boyle. This is 'passive aggressive behaviour' and amounts to abuse.

4. The second installer verbally shouted into Mrs Boyle face that 'she was a joke and her poster a joke'. This resulted in her becoming very upset and frightened. She has still not got over this abuse.

5. The installers showed no identification on their person or on their vehicle. Against Irish Water's stated protocol.

6 They failed to show any identity.

7. They disconnected Mrs Boyle's water supply without any notice.

8. They deliberately ignored 'No Meter Here' poster in Mrs Boyle's window and a verbal request to stop work.

9. Mrs Boyle had not signed any contract with Irish Water..

Irish Water Can Not Be Believed

GMC Sierra Ltd which, owned by Denis O'Brien, is sub contracted by Irish Water to install meters in this Inishowen. They started secretively installing meters here in mid April 2015. They have not been adhering to Irish Water stated protocols in relation to installing meters. See below Irish Water protocol.

Of course none of the protocols stated in this clip by Irish Water has happened to date in Inishowen. The abuse of residents by Irish Water contractors in Ard Na Gula Duibhe in Moville is not an isolated incident. See Buncrana Together previous articles, here:Irish Water in Moville Co DonegalTreatment of Woman Appalling and again here: Buncrana Against Irish Water Press Release Irish Water Insulting Inishowen Community All incidents have been reported.

Incidence of Abuse Not Being Investigated. Ignored by Local Politicians

To date these incidents have not been investigated. Residents have not been contacted by either Irish Water or An Garda Síochána.

All local politicians in the area have been notified and are well aware of what is going on. Apart from Sinn Fein councillors, none have raised the slightest objection nor have they contacted residents. In the case of 77 year old Mrs Rose Boyle she has been left on her own to deal with the aftermath of that gruesome ordeal.

Inishowen Independent May14, 2015

Below Mr Enda Craig, Moville Anti Water Charges, responds on Highland Radio to what he describes as a meaningless apology letter from Irish Water.

Inishowen Indepentent May14, 2015

In a later Inishowen Independent article May28th Irish Water praised the professionalism of it's staff and told the newspaper "Most of the metering teams are local workers and it is a testament to their professionalism and dedication that all incidents have been managed in an appropriate manner and that the overall targets for the metering programme continue to be met within the demanding quality standards."

Update :

All metering in the Inishowen peninsula has been halted. An Irish Water spokesperson said last week in the Inishowen Independent " there have been a number of instances of targeted aggression towards individual members of the metering teams in the Inishowen and Glenties areas of Donegal, which has necessitated the temporary cessation of works by the regional contractor, GMC Sierra, in these areas. Individual incidents were reported to the Gardai and are being investigated." However, local anti water charges campaigners flatly rejects Irish Water claims.