Water removed from democratic control

George Bernard Shaw said “Ireland is the only open-air asylum in Western Europe being run by the inmates”.

The Government rushed the Water Services Bill through the Dáil before they broke up for their Christmas holidays to avoid debate.

This Bill allowed for the transfer of all local authority assets to Irish Water.

It took water services out of the democratic control of councils and gave it to bureaucrats on high salaries, such as John Tierney, and their consultants. Money collected in property tax is being used to set up Irish Water and will not provide local services, as promised.

Our natural resources, such as fishing, oil, gas, and water are all being taken from us by well-organised ‘robbery’ and thousands of struggling families who are already in dire trouble are being asked to pick up that tab.

Next in line will be the testing of private wells.

They will be deemed not fit for human consumption and we will all be paying water rates to Irish Water.

Furthermore, Irish Water is to be insulated from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Remember Bord Gais? Privatisation is getting nearer and nearer, and I thought we had democracy in this country.

My God, how true for George Bernard Shaw.

Michael O’Sullivan

Cahermore

Castletownbere

Co Cork