Irish Water: News From The Hub Ireland - Tsunami of Litigations. - Bills Sent to Dead Man

April 10, 2015

Tsunami of Litigations Over contracts

We got our 'bill' today and opened it. We honed in on the 'thank you for registering with Irish Water' comment and decided to ring them. We pursued it down the phone and insisted on knowing precisely when and how we had registered.
We were informed that we had registered on a date in February over the phone - we explained categorically that this was not the case.

The operative went away for a while and came back sounding very unsure.
At this point we called everything in - suspecting that an act of fraud may have been committed.
If someone claims that we made a phone call blah blah! sure you guys do this every day.....
But we demanded a transcript of the call in question, plus the call we

were currently on, and copies of all data relating to ourselves that they may have obtained.
I would hate to think of tens of thousands of people making similar phone calls and questioning how and when these were set up. It would be terrible. I'd hate to see such a 'excuse the pun - tsunami of litigation concerning fraudulent misrepresentation of contracts.

By the Hub Ireland

Irish Water Sends Bill to Dead Man

A widow of a deceased man from Gorey Co Wexford wrote in The Hub Ireland " I'm at a loss for words... not only did Irish Water send the deceased man a bill but acknowledged on said bill he died.
This morning's post. Two letters from Irish Water addressed to my deceased husband. Nearly 6 years dead and you dare to put that on a letter. No, I will not be contacting you to clarify your error". She went on to say that she hopes she is the only person this has happened to "as this is a callous disregard for human decency."

The Irish Times quoted a spokeswoman for Irish Water “Irish water will be sending bills to 1.5 million customers over the coming eight weeks.

“It’s a significant task and we expect to face challenges where we have incomplete customer information, where customers have not yet registered or where customer information needs to be updated.
“We totally understand and apologise for upset caused by incorrect customer information, and our contact centre staff are ready to accept customer registrations or to correct any data inaccuracies quickly so that information is correct for future billing cycles.”

This action by Irish Water is one of the most significant and revealing actions by the company to date. Could Irish Water have sent a bill to a dead person with the address Alan Montague (RIP) with the knowledge he was dead? Did Irish Water include (RIP) after the name?

If Irish Water did then there are serious questions to be asked. Why, for example? Their explanation in the Irish Times cuts no ice. They knowingly sent the bill in the expectation of getting a response to update their details. If that's the case it could be regarded as an extremely callous if not repugnant act. Can there be any excuses?

Could it be that this address including (RIP) was passed on to Irish Water? If so by whom? This could have serious implications with regard to data protection.

Minister Alan Kelly and the Government must ask these questions of Irish Water. The family deserve an explanation and a proper apology.

From The Hub Ireland

Bottled Life: Nestle's Business With Water

April 9, 2015

Story from Bottled Life by Res Gehriger

The Story-The Truth About nestles

While the world's population continues to grow at an alarming rate, water is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity. The Swiss film "Bottled Life" documents the booming business with bottled water, by focusing on the global leader in this lucrative multi-billion dollar market – namely, the Nestlé corporation in Switzerland. Nestlé currently controls more than 70 of the world's bottled water brands, among them Perrier, San Pellegrino and Vittel.

Nestlé's annual sales of bottled water alone total some CHF 10 billion. And yet the company prefers not to discuss its water business – as Swiss journalist Res Gehriger discovered when researching this documentary film. The Nestlé management refused to give any interviews or assistance or to provide information. But Gehriger persisted, and discovered just how controversial and conflict-laden the company's international operations are.

Water war in the USA

To be able to sell and make money from water, you first have to own it. In the case of Nestlé this applies to many parts of the United States, by far the biggest market for its booming bottled water business. Whoever owns land or has acquired leasing rights is permitted to pump as much water as he likes. In the rural state of Maine, Nestlé has purchased many such water rights and resources. Every year the company pumps out millions of cubic metres of water, for transportation in road tankers to huge bottling factories. In the small towns of Fryeburg, Newfield and Shapleigh, journalist Res Gehriger witnessed how Nestlé tries to stifle and suppress local opposition to its operations with an army of powerful PR consultants, lawyers and lobbyists.

Nestlé's expansion strategy

"Bottled Life" focuses a critical spotlight on Nestlé's global expansion strategy in the business of bottled water. In the United States and Europe, the company sells mainly spring water with a designation of origin. In developing countries, however, the corporation pursues another concept – namely Nestlé Pure Life. This product is purified groundwater, enriched with a Nestlé mixture of minerals. Nestlé Pure Life was the brainchild of Peter Brabeck, a Nestlé man almost all his life, a former CEO and currently Chairman of the Board. Today Nestlé Pure Life is the world's top-selling brand of bottled water.

Test market Pakistan

Res Gehriger's research took him to Pakistan, Nestlé's test market for its Pure Life product. The company refused him access to its production plant in Pakistan – but Gehriger did get to see something of life outside the factory fence. In the nearby village groundwater levels have fallen dramatically, and the village fountain water is nothing more than foul-smelling sludge.

Nestlé Pure Life is a clever business concept. And particularly so in the developing world. In countries such as Pakistan where the public water supply has failed or is close to collapse, the company proudly presents its bottled water as a safe health-enhancing alternative. But for the overwhelming majority of consumers, it is an expensive out-of-reach alternative. In Lagos, for example, the mega metropolis of Nigeria/Africa with its population of millions, water always comes at a price. The scenario of a city in which everyone has to pay for life-giving water, is already a sad reality in Lagos. Families eking out an existence in the slums spend half their meagre budget on canisters of water. The upper class? They purchase Nestlé Pure Life.

Bottled Life documentary directed by Urs Schnell 2012.  Writern by Res Gehringer — Bottled Life documentary directed by Urs Schnell 2012. Writern by Res Gehringer

Whitewashing the water business

Nestlé places great priority on promoting its image. And when it comes to water, it's Peter Brabeck in particular who does the promoting. As CEO – and even more so after becoming Chairman of the Board in 2005 – he developed a communications strategy which operates under such noble pretences as "Corporate Social Responsibility" and "Creating Shared Value." A preached philosophy – but a practised one?

In researching this film, journalist Res Gehriger comes to a sad and sobering conclusion. It is that of a company intent on amassing resource rights worldwide. With the aim of dominating the global water market of the future.

Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe Water is a human right Company video

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Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe Water is Not A Human Right - English Subtitles

Gardai Raid Two Homes in Letterkenny, Co Donegal Allege Theft of Irish Water property

April 9, 2015

DonegalDaily online newspaper reported that Gardai raided two homes in Letterkenny as part of an investigation into the alleged theft of Irish Water property. The searches took place on Friday morning April 3. DonegalDaily said " it is understood that property was recovered but no arrests were made." According to the article Garda Superintendent David Kelly responded to claims by Councillor Michael Mac Giolla Easbuig by saying that "this matter is currently under investigation and as this investigation is ongoing, we cannot make any further comment at this stage"

Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Donegal Can't Pay Won't Pay spokesperson, has strongly condemned Gardai raids on the homes of anti-water meter activists as an unacceptable escalation of political policing. "The only thing these activists are guilty of, is standing up for their communities by helping them to resist unwanted and unnecessary water meters. They have stood with people day after day throughout the winter months in all sorts of weather helping them to assert their rights not to have a meter imposed against their wishes. Where are the Garda raids on the homes of swindling bankers? Why no arrests of bribing builders who piled their fortunes high and walked away from half-finished developments? And why no dawn raids on corrupt and thieving politicians who facilitated this whole sorry mess? It is because we are being subjected to an unacceptable escalation in political policing with only those who are trying to stop the imposition of bailout taxes like water charges being subjected to dawn raids, arrests and imprisonment."

From The Journal.ie a news website
Councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, who has been speaking with the two householders, said people involved in the protest movement were “very frightened” in the wake of the raids, which happened between 9am and 10am on Good Friday. The councillor said “worthless” pieces of scrap plastic left on a path by contractors had been taken by a group of protesters. The plastic casings – which he maintained were “broken, dirty and old” – would have been replaced with new material during the installation process, he said. However, Mac Giolla Easbuig said the material was disposed of by the activists and maintained none was found in the home searches. He said a number of €2 plastic plugs – which campaign groups have been offering for sale around the country – were taken from one of the houses. (Activists have been encouraging people to remove their water meters and uses the caps to keep their supply flowing – it’s not something Irish Water endorses).

Mr Mac Giolla Easbuig said " Our message is that we will not be intimidated by political policing. We will continue to support all those who resist metering and support the boycott. The best way for anyone who shares our anger at these events is to show it, is by supporting the Bin The Bills demonstration on 25th April."