Cork Workers Party Councillor Ted Tynan has said that the government’s decision to make the new Irish Water company a subsidiary of Bord Gáis is merely a diversionary tactic as both it and its parent company will be privatised within the next few years with thousands of job losses, poorer quality water and huge increases in prices for both water and gas.
Cllr. Tynan said it is no coincidence that today’s (Tuesday) announcement takes place on the same day as the Troika is visiting Dublin and the launch of Irish Water is designed to satisfy Ireland’s economic masters in the EU, IMF and the European Central Bank.
He said that the claim that the installation of meters would create 2,000 temporary jobs had to be viewed in the light of inevitable job losses that will take place in Bord Gáis and in the local authorities once privatisation takes place.
“We already know”, said Cllr. Tynan, “that Bord Gáis was earmarked for full or partial privatisation in the government’s review of the sale of state assets published last February. Therefore, if Bord Gáis is sold, Irish Water will be sold with it or more likely as a separate lot. We will then have some of the vultures of multinational water companies take it over and prices will sky-rocket”.
“There is plenty of evidence from other countries which have privatised their water services that it is a recipe for huge increases in cost, serious declines in water quality and safety, and job losses. Water privatisation, and water metering which they require to make it possible, will be met with massive resistance in this country. People have been bled dry in the name of austerity and can pay no more. The Household Charge campaign and the brave resistance of a million householders has shown that people will no longer roll over for this government. The campaign has built a powerful base and will be a formidable force that will meet the government head on when meter installation begins”, Cllr. Tynan declared.