Last-ditch attempt to thwart Irish Water bill

Independent senators will make a last-ditch attempt to thwart the Government’s Irish Water bill this morning by pushing for any future privatisation of the firm to be agreed by referendum.

The bid will be made at the committee stage of the bill today, after the legislation passed through the second of three stages needed to turn it into law yesterday.

After more than 40 hours of Dáil debate, Environment Minister Alan Kelly managed to ensure the bill — and an amendment to hold a non-binding plebiscite national vote if bids are ever made to privatise the firm — was passed by 81 votes to 58 on Tuesday night.

It had been expected Mr Kelly would find it tougher to ensure the bill passed through this second stage as Government has a two-seat minority in the Seanad.

However, after another day of debate which included Mr Kelly insisting he will not “tolerate” Irish Water being privatised and referencing 44 areas nationwide where “raw sewage” is passing into fresh water, the Seanad voted 31 to 26 in favour of the amended bill.

As a result, a number of senators said they will now seek to ensure calls for a referendum are enshrined in the legislation during the third and final committee stage of the bill today.

Should they be successful, the bill will have to return to the Dáil next week for further discussion.

Yesterday, Government senators insisted those opposed to the bill were depending on scare stories. But noting the impact of the charges, Fianna Fáil senator Mark Daly said voting in favour of the bill is akin to telling Ireland’s poorest to choose between paying for water or feeding children.