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

Fianna Fáil would reintroduce water charges, admits Cowen

By Elaine Loughlin, political reporter

Fianna Fáil has today confirmed it would reintroduce water charges down the line if elected to Government.

Although the party have committed to abolishing Irish Water, environment spokesman Barry Cowen said there would be a return to water charges in a number of years.

Mr Cowen said: “We want to abolish Irish water, we want to invest in a water structure and we will invest more than is presently being invested by the existing regime".

He said road tax and local authority funds went towards funding the establishment of a “gold-plated super quango” which is not delivering on the ground.

“But yes, we accept that if you have a system that is fit for purpose, if you have system where everybody gets based on quality, based on delivery, based on need and based on leakage, if you can reach the targets then yes, there is a system whereby people can make their contribution over and above taxation.”

He said this contribution would be minimal and it would take “at least 10 years” before the water system would be up to an adequate level.

“It will be over taxation, it will be in the region of €50 or €100, I don’t know,” Mr Cowen said.

“But it will be for a Government at that time to decide on that. But only when the system is fit for purpose, only when the network is as it should be across the State.”

He said the plan would involve “abolition of Irish Water as it currently stands”.

Under Fianna Fáil’s proposals, 100 of the 700 staff currently working with Irish Water would be retained, while the remaining employees would be redeployment within local authorities or would be offered redundancies.

Speaking at Fianna Fáil’s headquarters this morning, Mr Cowen said his party would prioritise spending on services ahead of reducing taxes if the economy does not grow as quickly as is forecast.

Mr Cowen said: “We are the only party that has said in the event of the projected growth that is being talked about by all parties not materialising, that we will prioritise services over taxation.

“We do not want to see the better off becoming even better off while 1,700 children are still in emergency accommodation.

“There is a wide suite of measures that we would want to implement in Government, including the abolition of Irish Water.”

Mr Cowen said they have 71 candidates and they would be going out to try to win all of these seats.

Right2Water campaign accused of major u-turn →

Tuesday, February 21, 2017 - 05:32 pm

The Right2Water campaign have been accused of doing a major u-turn after it said that those who abuse or waste water should face charges, writes Daniel McConnell, Political Editor.
The concession by the group, which has been vehemently opposed to water charges, was seen as a major climbdown by the Government.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney, responding to an Irish Examiner online report of the comments, described the u-turn as a “interesting development”.
Addressing the Dáil's new Water committee, representatives of the Right2Water group agreed that charges should apply in cases where people use excessive amounts of water.
Under questioning from Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen, Stevie Fitzpatrick and David Gibney were pressed about previous comments from Brendan Ogle, the high-profile spokesman for the Right2Water campaign.

David Gibney

“Mr Ogle, like Mr Gibney, speaks for the Right2Water movement. He was asked specifically if he opposed charging people for excessive use and he said he was not. Does the Right2Water movement share that viewpoint?,” Mr Cowen asked.

Mr Fitzpatrick responded “It is the viewpoint”.

“If this committee was in a position to agree a process by which people who use excessive amounts, in the opinion of this committee, were charged, is Right2Water happy with that?” asked Mr Cowen.

“Yes,” was the response from Mr Fitzpatrick.

Mr Cowen asked at what level did the witnesses think was appropriate to consider excessive.

“Let us say the Minister said 123 litres a day was acceptable and we suggested the limit should be two or three times that amount and recommended a swimming pool take for beyond that amount. How would the witnesses penalise people who use more than that amount of water?” he asked.

Mr Gibney responded: “In terms of swimming pools, I live in a community that does not have a swimming pool and I do not know anyone who owns a swimming pool.

“Right2Water is not opposed to the Government introducing a swimming pool tax.

“There might be a provision in terms of commercial water charges and taxes. If we want to address waste then let us address areas where water is wasted.

“As much as 41% of water is lost through leaks.”

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Cowen, said the statement by the Right2Water spokespeople was “truly significant”.

Barry Cowan

Mr Gibney said the Government has given €2.7bn in tax cuts in recent years while funding for water services has been cut.

“If you want to fund water properly, stop giving away tax cuts, so let's address the core issue,” he said.

Mr Gibney questioned the Government's strategy of reducing the Universal Social Charge and he singled out Bank of Ireland boss Richie Boucher as to how much he pays.

“Richie Boucher, who works for Bank of Ireland, pays €63,000 in USC because he is a high earner. That is equivalent to a salary for two nurses,” Mr Gibney said.

Committee chairman Padraig O Ceidigh told Mr Gibney it was not appropriate to name individuals like that.

Mr Gibney was forced to apologise.

Fine Gael's Martin Heydon accused Mr Gibney of being opposed to cutting taxes for ordinary workers.

He said that 6% of the highest earners in this country pay 49% of the income tax and USC, which is a fairly substantial figure.

“They are also the key people who drive business and economic activity in this country,” said Mr Heydon.

“I am surprised that Mr Gibney is opposed to cuts in income tax for ordinary workers,” he added.

Source: Irish Examiner Feb 21 2017