Simon Coveney: I’m not delaying public water referendum

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has denied that he is delaying a proposed referendum on the public ownership of the water system.

Last November, Independets4Change TD, Joan Collins, brought forward a bill, calling for a referendum to be held to place the public ownership of water into the Constitution.

Speaking to an Oireachtas Housing Committee that is examining the bill, Mr Coveney, who has responsibility for planning and local government, said he is awaiting legal clarity from the attorney general about the planned referendum. He said that changing the Constitution was “a big deal” and that there could be no room for making a mistake.