Fine Gael Policy To Centralise Water Hypocritical
The proposal by Fine Gael to create one central authority to manage water infrastructure is hypocritical and has been labelled as "another political stunt" by Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney. 28/01/10“Irelands 29 county councils and five city councils are currently responsible for the management of water infrastructure in their areas,” Niall Blaney TD said.
“Fine Gael is calling for the establishment up of a single water authority which would take responsibility for water supply and water investment out of the hands of the local authorities.”
On one hand Fine Gael are criticising the number of so-called "quangos" in Ireland, yet on the other they are calling for the establishment of another one.
In the last couple of months Environment Spokesperson Phil Hogan TD said that he wants to "restore trust, services and responsibility back to Local Government", yet he said that that it is "crazy" that local authorities have control over water investment in their own areas.
“The establishment of a new central authority managing water goes against pretty much every policy the party has put to the Irish public over the past year.”
And when interviewed on Newstalk Breakfast Show this week Enda Kenny could not say what the Fine Gael policy on water charges would be. He said they "hadnt discussed it".
“Fine Gael should not take people for fools. They cannot have it every way. They want a single water authority set up but they have no idea how this authority will be funded as they refuse to answer questions on the introduction of domestic water rates".
“The Government has been forthright on this issue. Water rates will have to be introduced in some form in the next year or two. The details are currently being finalised by the Environment Minister. What we need is a change in attitude about water management. We are all guilty of taking it for granted as a resource and we must manage it more effectively as a country.”
"Given Fine Gaels track record on a succession of issues in recent months, their avoidance of this issue comes as little surprise. They cant propose the setting up of a new semi state body when they refuse to give a straight answer on how this body will be funded. It simple highlights how shallow their proposals are for tackling the water crisis,” concluded Niall Blaney TD.
