Is this the New Era that they promised us?

Two weeks ago I met some English visitors to our country. I enquired of them as to the price they pay for water in Bournemouth. They informed me that metered water for two adults and two children is £850, that figure converts to €1,084.

Research elicited that the company supplying Bournemouth increased their operating profits by £5 million and their after tax profits by £14 million with the latter post tax profit yielding £107.9 million for this company for 2013.

The visitors agreed that it was outrageous that anyone should be making profits from the sale of what is the most life essential service in existence but they felt they could do nothing about this as the Tory government had commenced the commodification of water services two decades ago.

Fortunately, for all of our own flaws, we have a written constitution. What politicians are afraid of a debate to enshrine in our Constitution that water services shall never be privatised but shall remain in public ownership and subject to democratic oversight and control?

If this is the ‘new era’ promised by Government the people will need to keep up the pressure on the streets.

John Sullivan

Frankfort Avenue

Rathmines

Dublin 6