merrion street

Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, Alan Kelly, TD today, 7 April 2016 has called on all political parties to meet with workers of Irish Water and to ease their concerns over their future livelihood. Following a meeting with the Ervia group of trade unions which took place in the Custom House today, Minister Kelly will be writing to the leaders of the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and other political parties asking them to meet with workers prior to any decision being made over the future of the company.

“The election is over. It’s time for a common sense debate about the future of water services in Ireland. Irish Water workers are for the most part ordinary people trying to support their families and working hard in a utility that is providing an essential service to the people of Ireland. I note that they have sought a meeting with leaders of many political parties which have not been facilitated so far.”

“Their voice is an important one and I hope that the next Government would be courteous enough take into account their views. I fully accept there are many issues of great concern to the wider public, however these workers have delivered a significant degree of progress across leak detection, water conservation, replacement of century old infrastructure and elimination of boil water notices,”

“It would be my hope that the on-the-ground personnel would contribute to a more informed public debate about the future of this national infrastructure,”