Citizens are coming to expect betrayal as governments favour corporate interests

Trust in politicians was at a very low ebb when attempts were made insensitively and brusquely to impose water charges.

A considered approach could have drawn a greater uptake in agreeing to pay. There also would have had to have been concrete assurances that no privatisation was possible.

As part of a ‘rescue deal’ Bolivia had bitter experience of the attempted privatisation of water. A social contract about the essentials in basic living needs to be agreed and adhered to in the Irish Republic.