We can’t trust Government on Irish Water plebiscite

Environment Minister Alan Kelly says “the Government has promised that a plebiscite would have to be held if both Houses of the Oireachtas wanted to privatise Irish Water”. 

This means any new government can promise us, before an election, that they will not sell Irish Water, but use their majority in a Dáil vote (plebiscite) to sell it afterwards.

We know the track record of this Government on pre-election promises.

Is this why they are scared to enshrine into law that the company can only be sold after a vote? They can pass any old law, good or bad, at the stroke of pen. But, doubtless, some future minister will stand up in the Dáil, tell the nation that they hadn’t realised just how bad the previous lot had left things, and then tell us that Irish Water needs to be sold-off.

John Mallon

Shamrock Grove

Mayfield

Cork