Let’s have a vote - Irish Water ownership sale veto

AS any veteran of Leinster House will confirm, a politician does not have to do much to provoke suspicion.

A recent example of this mismatch between what seems the right thing to do and the choice taken by government was the point-blank refusal by Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to even consider a referendum to copper-fasten Irish Water in public ownership. His reaction was out of step with the public mood, and, with the perspective offered by distance, utterly bizzare. It underlined the breakdown in trust between official Ireland and the popultion of Ireland.

The issue has been raised again by Labour junior minister Aodhan O’Riordan — as it will be in the coming election campaign. There seems no rational, overriding reason not to have such a vote, on what is, after all, the property of the State. Is Mr Kenny suggesting that we can’t decide what do with a utility we own 100%? Let’s have a vote and let’s make a vote an election issue. The establishment of Irish Water was a public administration disaster and the refusal to hold a vote on ownership policy may turn it into a political one, as well.