Hogan ‘bungling’ over water charges

Clare Labour Deputy Michael McNamara has broken ranks with his Government colleagues to land a stinging broadside against embattled Environment Minister Phil Hogan over his handling of the water charges controversy.

In an interview with The Clare Champion, Deputy McNamara accused Minister Hogan of ‘bungling’ following the confusion created by the release of information concerning water meters by the Department of Environment last weekend.
In fact, the Labour deputy claimed the minister’s handling of the issue over the last three days cast serious question marks over his suitability for high office. It is understood he has expressed his concerns about the minister’s handling of the water charges issue with party leadership.
Deputy McNamara, who supports the introduction of water charges, admitted he was also unhappy with Minister Hogan’s handling of the household charge due to the lack of timely information and the lack of flexibility for payments.
“Elderly people were expected to go on a website and pay the household charge. They couldn’t pay the household charge in their local post office. The company that printed leaflets about the household charge went out of business. If the Government can print Christmas cards for deputies, some other State company could have been secured to print information about the household charge,” he said.
“Information on the household charge wasn’t delivered in a timely fashion. The way Minister Hogan has dealt with water charges has raised questions about whether he has learned anything from his handling of the household charge. If the minister continues to proceed in the same bungling manner in relation to the introduction of water charges, it raises questions about his suitability for office.
“The leaking of information from the Department of the Environment about the payment for water meters up front is nothing short of seeking to stir up opposition to water charges.
“I am concerned that lessons don’t appear to have been learned from the introduction of the household charge. I hope that there isn’t a deliberate pattern of refusing to take public opinion into account before the introduction of a new charge.
“You have to bring people on board with you when you are introducing a new charge or tax. You don’t need to throw salt in their eyes. I have made my concerns known. I don’t want another repeat of what happened with the household charge. The new water charge has to be fair and seen to be fair.
The Labour deputy stressed he wasn’t opposed in principle to the introduction of water charges, as most rural dwellers have to pay for the cost of providing their own water for years.
He doesn’t oppose a reasonable standing charge, provided it wasn’t as high as €300 for the privilege of having a water meter.
Minister Hogan declined to comment on Deputy McNamara’s claims.
A Department of Environment spokesman said water is an expensive, finite resource that costs a lot of money to deliver.
“Ireland is one of the last countries in the EU and the OECD to charge domestic consumers for water. Every Irish citizen and business deserves a plentiful, supply of good quality water – it is absolutely vital in order to attract inward investment and to protect jobs. There are a number of problems with the current model of water services provision.
“Recent international research reveals that in just 20 years, the global demand for water will be 40% higher than it is today and Ireland’s rich water resources will become of increasing strategic importance to the Irish economy as the value of water increases globally but we have to reform the current system, which is not sustainable,” he stated.
The Department of Environment stated, “The Government believes water meters are the fairest way to charge for water and the roll-out of the metering programme will generate 2,000 much-needed jobs.
It has assigned the responsibility for the regulation of water services to the Commission for Energy Regulation. The regulator will be responsible for determining the cost of water services and ensuring that efficiencies are delivered so that the cost of providing the service to the consumer is kept to a minimum and is fair.
The regulator will be consulting with the new statutory body, Irish Water and with the department and local authorities and other key stakeholders in the coming months to determine the approach to be taken to the setting of water charges. The Regulator will ensure a fair funding model is established and they need to be given the time to establish such a system.”
However, Clare Fine Gael deputies Joe Carey and Pat Breen pointed out Minister Hogan has a particularly challenging portfolio, as he is charged with introducing a progressive property tax and a system for water metering.
They noted these are difficult but necessary measures, both of which are requirements under the terms of the EU/IMF agreement.
Deputy Breen said several tough decisions would have to be made by the Government in order to correct the public finances and put this country back on a sustainable footing.
“I believe we all need to work together and get the job done,” he said.
His views were echoed by Deputy Carey, who noted the necessary introduction of new charges such as a household charge, sceptic tank charge and water charges, were not popular.
“There is no easy way to tell people they have to pay new taxes or charges. I believe Minister Hogan has taken on these issues. He has taken a lot of criticism, which is part of the job. Labour ministers have a job to do and we all have to work together.
“We all need the courage and strength to take necessary tough decisions,” he said.