Bree backs Irish Water vote move

THE recent decision of the government to consult the Attorney General in regard to holding a referendum on public ownership of our water is to be welcomed according to Councillor Declan Bree.

He was speaking at a meeting of Sligo County Council where he said Water was a human right, essential for life and for all our human needs.

“As such, water provision and sanitation should not be subject to the profit motive or the free market and should be made available to all on the basis of need, not means.

“Two years ago , supported by the Right2Water Campaign, Joan Collins T.D. first launched her Bill calling for a referendum to put the public ownership of water into the Irish Constitution.

“At the time she pointed out that the bill, which was drafted in conjunction with the Right2Water campaign, did not belong to her or any other politician or party. She said it belonged to people in communities across this country as does the water it protects.

“The Water in Public Ownership Bill 2016 reads: “The Government shall be collectively responsible for the protection, management and maintenance of the public water system. The Government shall ensure in the public interest that this resource remains in public ownership and management.”

“The bill passed second stage in the Dail without any opposition. However it has been stuck in committee since then

“The government has now indicated that it is agreeable to introduce a different wording but having the same intent.

Deputy Collins bill calls for public ownership and management of public water services.

It has long been the opinion of those of us involved in the Right2Water campaign that the attempted introduction of water charges was about paving the way to privatisation, as was the case with the bin charges.”