Irish Water Toxic Tap and The Cover Up of Confidential Cowen Papers in 2010

IRISH WATER TOXIC TAP AND
the cover up of CONFIDENTIAL

COWEN PAPERS in 2010
CAN WE TRUST THEM SERIES

October 3, 2016
POST BODY
Papers dating from 2010 - the last year of Brian Cowen's
government - give an insight into the Fianna Fil/Greens
coalition's plans to introduce domestic water metering.
The coalition agreed at Cabinet on 15 September 2010 to
establish a new water agency and draft new legislation
allowing for domestic water meters - some two months before
Ireland entered the Troika bailout.
Oct, 2015
Cabinet meetings on 8 September and 15 September 2010he papers dating

from 2010
The 2007-2011 government also proposed the establishment of a
new water agency to manage and deliver the metering programme,

and manage the procurement process for the installation, billing
and collection services.
"Local Authorities would continue to be responsible for the direct
provision of water and waste water treatment services," stated a
Department of the Environment memo.
It was anticipated that the new "national water agency" would keep
directly employed staff to a minimum and outsource more labour
intensive functions. It would directly employ around 25 personnel
with estimated annual costs of 4m per annum.
There was a furore in July 2010 that the government had lost touch
with the public over images of "ministerial Mercs" driving ministers
to a special cabinet meeting in Farmleigh House to discuss budget
cuts.
Cabinet papers, released under the Freedom of Information Act
2014, show that "water metering for domestic connections" was
scheduled for debate at Farmleigh on 26 July 2010 but it was
deferred until September.
The issue was discussed by government at the Cabinet meetings
on 8 September and 15 September 2010.
A series of previously confidential government memos show that
Fianna Fil ministers Brian Lenihan (Finance), Mary Hanafin
(Tourism, Culture & Sport), Brendan Smith (Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food), Noel Dempsey (Transport) and Batt O'Keefe
(Enterprise, Trade & Innovation) along with Green Party ministers
Eamon Ryan (Communications, Energy & Natural Resources) and
John Gormley (Environment) were in favour of introducing a
domestic water metering programme.
A water referendum
The documents relating to the domestic water metering proposals
show that then minister for the environment, John Gormley, initially
sought a referendum so that the Constitution could be changed to
further protect against the privitisation of water in the future.
But this proposal was "deleted" from a later Cabinet memorandum
after observations were received, "particularly those of the

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources".
Minister Eamon Ryan's department highlighted "the complexities
involved" and suggested that any amendment to the Constitution
"could prove contentious and time-consuming".
Fianna Fail, Green Party, Fianna Fail/Green Coalition 2010,
Confidential Papers, Water Charges
Please Share and Read this file, and take a copy now
EU/IMF Programme of Financial

Support for Ireland
16 December 2010
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, xxx SEC (2010) xxx
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND
IRELAND
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND
IRELAND
The present memorandum of
understanding contains the following
documents:
(a) A memorandum of economic and
financial policies
(b) A memorandum on specific economic
policy conditionality (c) A technical
memorandum of understanding
The memorandum of understanding may

be amended upon mutual agreement of
the parties in the form of an Addendum.
The Addendum will be an integrated
part of this Memorandum and will
become effective upon signature.
Done in Brussels on ..../12/2010 ... and
in Dublin on ..../12/2010 in three
originals, in the English language.
For Ireland
__________________________________ Brian
Lenihan
Minister for Finance
For the European Commission
________________________________
Olli Rehn
Member of the European Commission
For the Central Bank of Ireland
_______________________________
Patrick Honohan
Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland
MEMORANDUM OF ECONOMIC AND
FINANCIAL POLICIES
1. We have concluded that Ireland
expeditiously requires a strong
programme to restore domestic and
external confidence and, thus, snap the
pernicious feedback loops between the
growth, fiscal, and financial crises.
2. We propose that such a programme
comprise of four key elements:
A fundamental downsizing and
reorganisation of the banking sector
complemented by the availability of

capital to underpin solvencyis
required to restore confidence.
Addressing market perceptions of weak
bank capitalisation, overhauling the
banks funding structure, and
immediately beginning a process of
downsizing the banking system will be
required.
An ambitious fiscal consolidation
building, on the progress already made.
Renewing growth through a multipronged effort.
A substantial external financial
assistance will support the achievement
of our policy objectives.
Recent Economic Developments and
Outlook
3. After two years of sharp declines in
output, the Irish economy is expected to
broadly stabilise this year before
expanding during 201114. As domestic
imbalances from the boom years are
being repaired, the recovery will, at
least initially, be primarily exportdriven. We project that GDP growth will
increase over time as export
performance filters through to
investment and consumption, consumer
confidence returns, and labour market
conditions improve. We recognise that
the risks in the short term are tilted to
the downside, and, in particular, the
headwinds from fiscal consolidation on

domestic demand could be larger than
anticipated. Over the longer haul also,
continued private and public sector
balance sheet adjustments, coupled
with a weak banking sector, could delay
the recovery.
4. Inflation is expected to remain low,
reflecting the large output gap and
modest external price pressures.
Although the inflation rate will likely
increase over time, it is expected to
remain lower than in trading partner
countries. This will have the benefit of
improving competitiveness but the low
rates of inflation would unavoidably
keep real debt burdens high and
dampen domestic demand.
5. The current account balance is
projected to continue to improve
gradually over the medium term,
reflecting export expansion and the
contraction in domestic demand.
However, profit repatriation from
multinationals and large interest
payments to foreign holders of Irish
debt are expected to limit the
improvement over the programme
period.
Restoring Financial Sector Viability
With its large size relative to the
economy, its heavy reliance on
wholesale funding, and its large
exposures to the real estate sector,

much of the domestic Irish banking
system is in a stressed state. The
Government has intervened heavily to
safeguard financial stability. In late
2009, we established the National Asset
Management Agency (NAMA) to take
over certain vulnerable commercial and
property development assets of banks.
In addition, major efforts have been
made to boost banks capital.
Although the Government has made
strong efforts to contain the fallout
from the sectors vulnerabilities, a
continued lack of market access and the
loss of deposits have created significant
funding pressures, alleviated largely by
an increase in recourse to Eurosystem
financing facilities and Emergency
Liquidity Assistance by the Central
Bank. Moreover, capital injections in the
banks have placed a heavy burden on
public finances.
Our proposed programme will take
decisive steps to ensure the viability
and health of the financial system. We
intend to lay the foundations of this
process very quickly, if we are to
reassure the markets that banks will
return to viability and will have the
ability to operate without further state
support in a reasonable period of time.
9. The key component of our efforts is
an overhaul of the financial sector with

the objective of substantial downsizing,
isolating the non-viable parts of the
system and returning the sector to
healthy functionality. It will be
important to support this process
through capital injections into viable
financial institutions. In addition,
structural measuresa special
resolution scheme for deposit-taking
institutions and a further strengthening
of the supervisory systemwill impart
greater stability to the system. It is our
goal that the leaner and more robust
system that emerges from these efforts
will not be dependent on state support,
will have a more stable funding base,
and will provide the credit required to
foster growth.
10. The plan to overhaul the banking
system has several elements. First,
banks will be required to run down noncore assets. Second, land and
development property loans that have
not yet been transferred to NAMA will
also be transferred. Third, banks will be
required to promptly and fully provide
for all non-performing assets as needed.
Fourth, the banks will be required to
securitise and/or sell asset portfolios or
divisions with credit enhancement if
needed, once the market normalises.
And finally, swift and decisive action will
be taken to resolve the position of

Anglo Irish Bank (Anglo) and Irish
Nationwide Building Society (INBS) in a
way that protects depositors and
strengthens the banking system. To this
end, by end-January 2011, we will
submit to the European Commission a
revised proposal developed in
collaboration with IMF, to resolve Anglo
and INBS. Each of these initiatives will
require technical or legislative
measures, most of which we believe can
be expeditiously instituted.
To achieve the above goals, banks will
be required to submit deleveraging
plans to the national authorities by endFebruary 2011. The plans will be
prepared on the basis of clear periodic
targets defined by the Central Bank,
taking into consideration the Prudential
Liquidity Assessment Review (PLAR) to
be conducted in consultation with the
EC, ECB and IMF. By end-March2011, the
Central Bank with assistance from an
internationally recognised consulting
firm, will complete the assessment of
the banks restructuring plans
(structural benchmark). The
deleveraging plans will be a component
of the restructuring plans to be
submitted to the European Commission
for approval under EU competition
rules.
This reorganisation and downsizing of

the banks will be bolstered by raising
capital standards. While we expect that,
in a restructured system, banks will be
able to raise capital in the market, we
recognise that the higher standards
may imply that, in the short run, public
provision of capital will be needed for
banks that are deemed to be viable. To
support this processand to render it
crediblewe will undertake a review of
the capital needs of banks on the basis
of a diagnostic of current asset
valuations and stringent stress tests
(PCAR 2011).
As an immediate step, to enhance
confidence in the solvency of the
banking system, the Central Bank will
direct Allied Irish Bank (AIB), Bank of
Ireland (BoI) and EBS to achieve a
capital ratio of 12 percent core tier 1 by
end-February 2011 (structural
benchmark) and Irish Life & Permanent
(ILP) by end-May 2011 (structural
benchmark). This would imply an
injection of fresh equity capital of 7bn
into these four banks and provide an
additional buffer for a potential increase
in expected losses. This action, along
with early measures to support
deleveraging and taking account of
haircuts on the additional loans to be
transferred to NAMA (see 10) would
result in an injection of 10bn of fresh

capital into the banking system, above
and beyond the already committed
capital injection of 6.6bn for AIB
previously announced by the Irish
authorities.
By end-December 2010, in consultation
with EC, ECB, and IMF staff, we will
define the criteria to run stringent
stress test scenarios (structural
benchmark). We will also agree with EC,
ECB, and IMF staff, by end-December
2010, on draft terms of reference for
the due diligence of bank assets by
firms (structural benchmark). We intend
to complete the diagnostic evaluation of
banks assets by end-March2011 and
the stress tests (PCAR 2011) by endMarch2011 (both structural
benchmarks), and transparently
communicate our findings.
Based on these assessments, starting
end-April 2011, banks will be required
to maintain a core tier 1 capital ratio of
10.5 percent. Banks will report their
capital adequacy ratios to the Central
Bank on a quarterly basis. The Central
Banks assessment of banks capital
adequacy ratio will be made public at
least semi- annually.
13. The question of whether burden
should be imposed on bank sub debt is
influenced by two factors: the quantum

of capital the State has committed to
support the institution and the
perceived viability of the bank in the
absence of receiving such capital.
Forced burden sharing through
legislation is possible and legislation is
currently being prepared in this regard.
Alternatively, in certain cases, a very
deeply discounted liquidity
management exercise might also be an
appropriate option.
14. In addition, we will finalise
proposals to strengthen the legal
framework for dealing with distressed
deposit-taking institutions in line with
recent EU developments (including EU
competition rules) and international
sound practices. Such a special
resolution regime will broaden the
available resolution tools with the aim
of promoting financial stability and
protecting depositors. In particular, the
draft legislation will (i) provide for the
appointment of a special manager
where, in the opinion of the Central
Bank, an institution's financial condition
has severely deteriorated; (ii) grant
powers to the Central Bank for the
transfer of assets and liabilities to other
institutions; and (iii) create a framework
for the establishment of bridge banks.
We seek to submit draft legislation
including the above-mentioned

elements to Dil ireann by endFebruary 2011 (structural benchmark).
Moreover, we will continue the efforts to
strengthen banking supervision by
ensuring higher staffing levels and
budget allocations in line with OECD
best practices. We will enhance the risk
assessment framework and raise the
corporate governance standards. By
end-September 2011, a report by an
independent assessor on our
compliance with Basel core principles
for effective banking supervision will be
made public.
We will also reform the personal
insolvency regime for financially
responsible individuals (including sole
traders), which will balance the
interests of both creditors and debtors.
The objectives will be to lower the cost
and increase the speed and efficiency of
proceedings, while at the same time
mitigating moral hazard and
maintaining credit discipline. The new
legal framework will include a nonjudicial debt settlement and
enforcement mechanism as an
alternative to court-supervised
proceedings.
We will continue to provide meanstested financial assistance to limit the
economic and social fallout of the crisis.
The existing mortgage interest

supplement scheme is crucial for
providing temporary assistance to
distressed mortgage holders. The
schemes administration will be
centralised to ensure a more consistent
application focusing on households that
are most in need, and further
modification will be introduced in the
2011 Social Welfare Act.
Our strategy for the credit union sector
is based on three components. First, we
will complete a full assessment of their
loan portfolios by end-April 2011
(structural benchmark). Second, by endApril 2011, we will have ready a
comprehensive strategy to enhance the
viability of the sector. And third, by endDecember 2011 we will submit
legislation to
Dil ireann to assist the credit unions
with a strengthened regulatory
framework including effective
governance and stabilisation
requirements.
We will continue efforts to ensure the
flow of credit to viable businesses,
building on actions already taken under
previous recapitalisations and NAMA
legislation. Allied Irish Bank and Bank of
Ireland have agreed, in connection with
recapitalisation last March, to make
available not less than 3 billion each
for targeted lending for new or

increased credit facilities to small and
medium-sized enterprises in both 2010
and 2011 as well as funds for seed and
venture capital and for Environmental
lending. The lending policies and
decisions of both banks are subject to
review by the Credit Review Office,
which enables businesses who have had
credit refused or withdrawn, to apply
for an independent review of the banks
decision.
NAMA is subject to an extensive range
of statutory Governance and
Accountability arrangements and these
will be fully adhered to. Members of the
NAMA Board must have relevant
experience and expertise, and the work
of the Board is supported by audit and
other sub-committees. NAMA operations
are also subject to statutory codes of
practice. NAMA is required to prepare
various reports, including quarterly
reports of its activities, and these are
subject to scrutiny by Oireachtas
committees. The Comptroller and
Auditor General audit the annual
accounts and prepare reports on NAMA
for review by the Public Accounts
committee.
Safeguarding Public Finances
To continue with the programme of
fiscal consolidation, a comprehensive
National Recovery Plan 2011-14 was

approved by the Government and
published on 24 November 2010. This
Plan forms the basis for the 2011
budget consistent with fiscal
consolidation measures amounting to
15 billion, a 9 percent of GDP
budgetary correction over the period
201114. Having stabilised the deficit,
albeit at a high level, the steps
announced in the Plan will place the
budget deficit-to-GDP ratio on a firm
downward path. While the debt-to-GDP
ratio will remain at high levels for the
next few years, it is projected to decline
thereafter, underpinning debt
sustainability. We also propose to keep
under review progress towards meeting
the Stability and Growth Pact targets.
Budget 2011 which will include
adjustment measures of 6 billion, will
be submitted to Dil ireann for
passage on 7 December (prior action).
As set out in the National Recovery
Plan, most of this adjustment will come
from the expenditure side. The capital
budget will be reduced, partly through
greater value for money in our
infrastructure procurements. On current
expenditures, we are pursuing public
service numbers reductions through
natural attrition and voluntary schemes,
adjustments in public service pensions,
and further savings on social transfers

(from reductions in working age
payments, reductions in universal child
benefit payments and other reforms).
Protecting the socially vulnerable at a
time of difficult economic adjustment
remains a central policy goal. Current
savings will also be realised from
streamlining government programmes
and through administrative efficiencies.
Should these savings or the expected
numbers reductions not materialise, we
reserve the option to take further
measures.
23. An income tax-led revenue package
sized at over 2 billion in a full year
will supplement the above expenditure
measures in 2011. Over the past
decade, the proportion of citizens
exempt from income tax has risen to 45
percent and tax credits have doubled,
resulting in a comparatively low burden
of tax on ordinary incomes. This is no
longer sustainable. Accordingly, we are
widening the tax base, by lowering
income tax bands and credits by 10
percent, and by reducing various
pension-related tax reliefs. We are also
taking action on other tax expenditures,
and distortions arising from the
existence of multiple levies.
To secure our fiscal targets, a number of
fiscal measures have been identified for
201214. We will continue to rely on

expenditure savings (6.1 billion), led
by current spending (4.9 billion), as
outlined in the National Recovery Plan.
We are targeting further reductions in
public sector numbers, social benefits
and programme spending, and have
anchored the prospective savings by
publishing multi-year expenditure
ceilings by Vote Group through 2014.
We are also planning to move towards
full cost-recovery in the provision of
water services and ensuring a greater
student contribution towards tertiary
education, while ensuring that lowerincome groups remain supported. In
addition, we will accelerate the process
of placing the pension systems on a
path consistent with long-term
sustainability of public finances. On the
tax side, we will build on the basebroadening measures outlined above
and establish a sound basis for subnational finances through a new
residential-property based site value
tax. The Finance Bill 2012 will contain
necessary provisions to bring into effect
the already signalled VAT increases in
2013 and 2014.
We are preparing institutional reform of
the budget system taking into account
anticipated reforms of economic
governance at the EU level. A reformed
Budget Formation Process will be put in

place. Furthermore, we will introduce a
Fiscal Responsibility Law which will
include provision for a medium-term
expenditure framework with binding
multi- annual ceilings on expenditure in
each area by end-July 2011 (structural
benchmark). A Budget Advisory Council,
to provide an independent assessment
of the Governments budgetary position
and forecasts will also be introduced by
end-June 2011 (structural benchmark).
These important reforms will enhance
fiscal credibility and anchor long-term
debt sustainability.
Raising the Growth Potential
We recognise the need to restore strong
sustainable growth. The structural
changes to the financial and fiscal
sectors, described above, are critical for
improving the prospects of economic
recovery and raise the medium-term
growth potential. Although, as is widely
recognised, Ireland is a global leader in
providing a business-friendly
environment, the National Recovery
Plan includes a strategy to remove
remaining structural impediments to
competitiveness and employment
creation. It also details appropriate
sectoral policies to encourage exports
and a recovery of domestic demand,
which will also support growth and
promote jobs.
Specifically, we will continue to press
ahead with other structural reform as
set out in the Memorandum of
Understanding on specific economic
policy conditionality:
We will promote service sector growth
through vigorous action to remove
remaining restrictions on trade and
competition, and will propose
amendments to legislation to enable the
imposition of financial and other
sanctions in civil law cases relating to
competition.
Building on the forthcoming report of
the Review Group on State Assets &
Liabilities the government will
undertake an independent assessment
of the electricity and gas sectors with a
view to enhancing their efficiency. State
authorities will consult with the
Commission Services on the results of
this assessment with a view to setting
appropriate targets for the possible
privatisation of state-owned assets.
To reduce long-term unemployment and
to facilitate re-adjustment in the labour
market, we will reform the benefits
system and legislate to reform the
national minimum wage. Specifically,
changes will be introduced to create
greater incentives to take up
employment.
Programme Financing
Ireland is facing large and medium-term
balance of payments needs that arise
from (i) substantial pressures on the
capital account that need to be relieved,
and (ii) the need to build up reserves to
improve banks ability to meet their
large external debt rollover needs. The
programmes success is dependent on
substantive external financial
assistance. This external financing will
serve as a bridge during the
implementation of the critical reforms
to fundamentally restructure the
banking system and restore fiscal
sustainability. It is our view that, given
Irelands medium-term structural
adjustment needs, an arrangement
under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF)
would be appropriate. Such an
arrangement would also have the added
benefit of a more realistic repayment
schedule for Ireland.
Notwithstanding the large fiscal
adjustment, we estimate the financing
need to be up to 85billion until the end
of2013. This includes a contingency
element for bank recapitalisation. An
amount of 17.5 billion will be covered
by an Irish contribution through the
Treasury cash buffer and investments of
the National Pension Reserve Fund. We
expect commitments from the IMF
under the Extended Arrangement to

amount to 22.5 billion and EU financial
support from the European Financial
Stability Mechanism/European Financial
Stability Facility and bilateral
arrangements to amount to 45 billion.
Ireland will draw on
these resources in parallel throughout
the programme period. While the
envelope of resources to be provided to
Ireland is a source of reassurance to the
authorities and to financial markets, we
plan to draw pari passu on IMF and EU
financial support on an as needed basis.
Moreover, if market access is restored
on a sustainable basis, we would
anticipate paying down the drawings
made on an advanced schedule.
We are confident that the
implementation of the fiscal and
banking sector reforms will help the
economy recover.
Programme Monitoring
Progress in the implementation of the
policies under the programme will be
monitored through quarterly and
continuous performance criteria,
indicative targets, structural
benchmarks, and quarterly programme
reviews and compliance with
requirements under the Excessive
Deficit Procedure (EDP). The attached
Technical Memorandum of
Understanding (TMU) defines the

quantitative performance criteria and
indicative targets under the
programme. The Governments targets
for the exchequer balance (central
government cash balance) excluding
interest payments will be monitored
through quarterly performance criteria
and net central government debt will be
an indicative target (Table 1). As is
standard in IMF arrangements, there
will be a continuous performance
criterion on the non-accumulation of
external payment arrears. Progress on
implementing structural reforms will be
monitored through structural
benchmarks (Table 2). A joint EC-ECB
Memorandum of Understanding
specifies, notably, the structural policies
recommended in the MEFP, and sets a
precise time frame for their
implementation,
As is standard in all Fund arrangements,
a safeguards assessment of the Central
Bank of Ireland will be completed by the
first review of the arrangement. In this
regard, the Central Bank will receive a
safeguards mission from the Fund and
provide the information required to
complete the assessment by the first
review. As a related matter, and given
that financing from the IMF will be used
to provide direct budget support, a
framework agreement will be

established between the government
and the Central Bank of Ireland on their
respective responsibilities for servicing
financial obligations to the IMF. As part
of these arrangements, Fund
disbursements will be deposited into
the governments account at the Central
Bank.
We authorise the IMF and the European
Commission to publish the Letter of
Intent and its attachments, and the
related staff report.
Table 1. Ireland: Quantitative
Performance Criteria and Indicative
Targets under the Economic Programme
for 201011
1. Cumulative exchequer primary
balance 1/
-15.3 0
-7.8 0
-11 0
2. Ceiling on the accumulation of new
external payments arrears on external
debt contracted or guaranteed by the
central government 2/
0
0
3. Ceiling on the stock of central
government net debt
96.5
December 31, 2010
March 31, 2011
June 30, 2011 September 30, 2011 (In

billions of Euros)
December 31, 2011
Performance Criterion
Performance Criterion
Indicative Target
Indicative Target -14.3
Indicative Target -14.6
Indicative Target 83.1
Indicative Target
Indicative Target 100
1/ Measured by the exchequer balance
excluding interest payments.
Cumulative from the start of the
relevant calendar year. 2/ Applies on a
continuous basis.
Table 2. Prior Action and Structural
Benchmarks Under the Economic
Programme for 201011
Measure
Submit the 2011 Budget to Dil ireann
(MEFP, 22).
Define the criteria to run stringent
stress tests scenarios (MEFP 12).
Agree on terms of reference for the due
diligence of bank assets by
firms (MEFP, 12).
The Central Bank will direct the
recapitalisation of the principal banks
(AIB, BOI and EBS) to achieve a capital
ratio of 12 percent core tier 1 (MEFP,

12).
Submit to Dil ireann the draft
legislation on a special resolution
regime (MEFP, 14).
The Central Bank to complete the
assessment of the banks restructuring
plans (MEFP, 11).
Complete the diagnostic evaluation of
banks assets (MEFP, 12).
Complete stress tests (PCAR 2011)
(MEFP, 12).
Complete a full assessment of credit
unions loan portfolios (MEFP, 18).
The Central Bank will direct the
recapitalisation of ILP to achieve a
capital ratio of 12 percent core tier 1
(MEFP, 12).
Establish a Budget Advisory Council
(MEFP, 25).
Introduce a medium-term expenditure
framework with binding multi-annual
ceilings on expenditure in each area
(MEFP, 25).
7 December 2010 End-December 2010
End-December 2010
End-February 2011
End-February 2011
End-March 2011
End-March 2011
End-March 2011
End-April 2011 End-May 2011
End-June 2011 End-July 2011
Prior Action Structural Benchmark

Structural Benchmark
Structural Benchmark Structural
Benchmark
Benchmark
Benchmark
Fiscal measures included in the
programme 2011
in million EUR
Revenue measures
One-off and other revenue measures
Current expenditure measures Capital
expenditure measures
TOTAL IMPACT in 2011
% of GDP
1400 0.9
700 0.4 2090 1.3 1800 1.1 5990 3.8
14
in million EUR
New revenue measures
% of GDP
880
0.5
620 0.4 2100 1.3
3600 2.2
% of GDP
850
0.5
250 0.1 2000 1.2
3100 1.8
Revenue carryover from previous year
Current and capital expenditure
measures
in million EUR
New revenue measures
2012
TOTAL ANNUAL IMPACT 2013
Revenue carryover from previous year
Current and capital expenditure
measures
TOTAL ANNUAL IMPACT
15
Ireland Memorandum of Understanding
on
SPECIFIC ECONOMIC POLICY
CONDITIONALITY
8 December, 2010
With regard to Council Regulation (EU)
n 407/2010 of 11 May 2010 establishing
a European Financial Stabilisation
Mechanism, and in particular Article
3(5) thereof, this Memorandum of
Understanding details the general
economic policy conditions as
embedded in Council Decision
17211/1/10 of 7 December 2010 on
granting Union financial assistance to
Ireland.
The quarterly disbursement of financial
assistance from the European Financial
Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM)1 will be

subject to quarterly reviews of
conditionality for the duration of the
programme. Release of the instalments
will be based on observance of
quantitative performance criteria,
respect for EU Council Decisions and
Recommendations in the context of the
excessive deficit procedure, and a
positive evaluation of progress made
with respect to policy criteria in the
Memorandum of Economic and Financial
Policies (MEFP) and in this
Memorandum of Understanding on
specific economic policy conditionality
(MoU), which specifies the detailed
criteria that will be assessed for the
successive reviews up to the end of
2013. If targets are (expected to be)
missed, additional action will be taken.
The authorities commit to consult with
the European Commission, the ECB and
the IMF on the adoption of policies that
are not consistent with this
Memorandum. They will also provide the
European Commission, the ECB and the
IMF with all information requested that
is available to monitor progress during
programme implementation and to track
the economic and financial situation.
Prior to the release of the instalments,
the authorities shall provide a
compliance report on the fulfilment of
the conditionality.
The release of the first instalments will
be conditional on the successful
adoption of Budget 2011 as described in
the MEFP and this MoU.
On 28 November 2010 Eurogroup and
ECOFIN Ministers issued a statement
clarifying that euro-area and EU
financial support will be provided on the
basis of the programme which has been
negotiated with the Irish authorities by
the Commission and the IMF, in liaison
with the ECB. Further to the Union
support from the EFSM, loans from the
EU and its Member States will include
contributions from the European
Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and
bilateral lending support from the
United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark.
The Loan Facility Agreements on these
financing contributions will specify that
the disbursements thereunder are
subject to the compliance with the
conditions of this Memorandum.
1. Actions for the first review (actions to
be completed by end Q1-2011)
i. Fiscal consolidation
Government submits the draft budget
for 2011 for Dil approval. The budget
provides information and prudent
projections on the entire general
government sector and targets a further
reduction of the general government
deficit in line with the MEFP. It includes

a detailed presentation of fiscal
consolidation adjustments for 2011 of
6 billion.
The budget includes the following
measures (in exceptional circumstances,
measures yielding comparable savings
could be considered in close
consultation with European Commission,
IMF and ECB staffs);
- Revenue measures to raise at least
1,400m in 2011 and an extra 620m in
a full year will be introduced to the
Houses of the Oireachtas, including:
- A lowering of personal income tax
bands and credits or equivalent
measures to yield 945m in 2011 and an
extra 300m in a full year.
- A reduction in pension tax relief and
pension related deductions to yield
155m in 2011, and an extra 105m in a
full year.
- A reduction in general tax
expenditures to yield 220m in 2011,
and an extra 185m in a full year.
- Excise and miscellaneous tax measures
to raise 80m in 2011 and a further
30m in a full year will be introduced.
- The government will outline methods
to raise at least 700m in one-off and
other measures in 2011.
- A reduction of current expenditure in
2011 of at least 2,090m will be
implemented including;
- Social Protection expenditure
reductions.
- Reduction of public service
employment numbers in 2011.
- A reduction of existing public service
pensions on a progressive basis
averaging over 4% will be introduced.
- Other expenditure savings of 1,030m
including savings on goods and
services.
- A reduction of at least 1,800m in
public capital expenditure against
existing plans for 2011 will be
introduced.
Government will rigorously implement
the budget for 2011 and the fiscal
consolidation measures announced
afterwards, consistent with the
requirements of the excessive deficit
procedure. Progress is assessed against
the (cumulative) quarterly primary
deficit ceilings in the Memorandum of
Economic and Financial Polices (MEFP)
including the Technical Memorandum of
Understanding (TMU).
The Department of Finance will continue
to ensure tight supervision of
expenditure commitments by the line
departments, and effective tax
collection, to make certain that the
primary deficit target in cash (see Table
1 of MEFP) and the general government
nominal budget deficit on ESA95 basis

as set out in the EU Council
Recommendation on excessive deficit
procedures are achieved.
ii. Financialsectorreforms
Recapitalisation measures
- The measures proposed for the
recapitalisation of Irish banks in the
government statement of 30 September
2010 will be implemented, taking into
account any changes in strategy for the
future of the banking sector agreed
under the programme.
- Further deleveraging of the banks will
be achieved by the extension of the
NAMA programme to include
approximately 16bn of land and
development loans in AIB and Bank of
Ireland, which had previously been
excluded as they were below a value
threshold of 20m. NAMA will categorise
sub-20m AIB and BOI land and
development and associated loans
(roughly estimated to number 10,000)
by reference to asset type and region.
NAMA will then apply different
discounts to each category based on
NAMAs loan valuation experience up to
the point of valuation. On this basis it is
expected that all loans will be
transferred by end-March 2011. NAMA
will issue bonds in return for the assets
transferred. NAMA would build on the
existing outsourcing arrangements with

the banks for the management of these
smaller loans and performance will be
incentivised as appropriate. The NAMA
legislation will be amended to underpin
the valuation and acquisition of these
assets on a portfolio basis. The
additional capital requirement will be
met by the programme and is included
in the figure below. These measures will
be notified to the European Commission
in accordance with EU competition
rules.
- Prudential Capital Assessment Review
(PCAR) minimum capital requirement for
the Irish banks (AIB, BOI, EBS and ILP)
will be set at 10.5% core tier 1;
- In addition the Irish authorities will
ensure that AIB, BOI and EBS are
initially recapitalised to a level of 12%
core tier 1 capital, which will take
account of haircuts on the additional
loans to be transferred to NAMA and will
fund early deleveraging by making
available EUR 10 billion in the system;
the recapitalisation will take the form of
equity shares (or equivalent
instruments for EBS);
- The PCAR exercise will be enhanced to
provide a comprehensive evaluation of
the underlying assets of the banks,
taking into account future expected
losses.
- The PCAR for 2011 will be completed

based on comprehensive Terms of
Reference for its design and
implementation, which will have been
previously agreed between the Central
Bank, the European Commission, IMF
and ECB staff. The methodology used
will be published in detail. The
Commission, IMF and ECB shall be
involved in the validation of the PCAR
process. In particular, key data and
information that relates to the PCAR
exercise will be available to the
Commission, IMF and ECB upon request.
Deleveraging measures
The Central Bank will complete a
Prudential Liquidity Assessment Plan
(PLAR) for 2011, outlining measures to
be implemented with a view to steadily
deleveraging the banking system and
reducing the banks' reliance on short
term funding by the end of the
programme period. Ambitious target
loan to deposit ratios, to be achieved by
end 2013, will be established for each
bank by the Irish authorities in
consultation with the ECB, EC and the
IMF by end Dec 2010. These targets will
be designed to ensure that convergence
to Basel III standards can be readily met
by the relevant dates. To this end, the
PLAR will establish target funding ratios
for 2013 for each of the banks, identify
non core assets and set an adjustment

path to these targets based on specified
non public annual benchmarks. Banks
will be informed of necessary actions to
be taken so as to comply with the
respective funding targets and
adjustment paths. The design and
implementation of the PLAR will be
agreed with the European Commission,
the ECB and the IMF. Compliance with
the PLAR benchmarks will be monitored
and enforced by the Central Bank taking
account of prevailing market conditions.
The PLAR will be updated on an annual
basis.
Reorganisation of banking sector
- The strategy for the future structure,
functioning and viability of Irish credit
institutions will be developed in detail
and agreed with the European
Commission, the ECB and the IMF.
Within the context of a comprehensive
reorganisation and downsizing of the
banking sector the strategy will identify
the appropriate path to ensure that the
banking system will operate without the
need of further State support. The Irish
authorities are committed to divest the
participations in the banks acquired
during the crisis within the shortest
timeframe possible which is compatible
with financial stability and public
finance considerations. Building on
restructuring undertaken to date,

further restructuring and viability plans
for the institutions concerned will be
submitted in accordance with EU
competition rules; these plans will also
be made available to the IMF and ECB.
Commitments undertaken by the Irish
authorities in the context of EU
competition decisions will be
maintained.
- In the context of the above strategy, a
specific plan for the resolution of Anglo
Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building
Society will be established and
submitted to the European Commission
in accordance with EU competition
rules. Any related legal procedures will
be set in motion under a precise
timetable. This plan will seek to
minimise capital losses arising from the
working out of these non-viable credit
institutions. The Government will
ensure that these credit institutions
adhere to the requisite capital ratios.
- Legislation on improved procedures for
early intervention in distressed banks
and special bank resolution regime
(SRR) will be introduced. The SRR
should include a robust set of powers
and tools to ensure the competent
authorities can promptly and effectively
resolve distressed banks e.g. when they
pose a risk to financial stability. The
legislation will be consistent with the EU

Treaty rules and will be consistent with
similar initiatives ongoing at EU level.
- Central Bank staffing in relation to the
PCAR and PLAR exercises will be
reviewed and augmented as necessary
to guarantee that both exercises can be
conducted on a timely and efficient
basis.
Burden sharing by holders of
subordinated debt
- Consistent with EU State aid rules,
burden sharing will be achieved with
holders of subordinated debt in relevant
credit institutions over the period of the
programme. This will be based on the
quantum of capital and other financial
assistance the State commits to support
specific credit institutions and the
financial viability of those institutions in
the absence of such support. Resolution
and restructuring legislation which will
address the issue of burden sharing by
subordinated bondholders will be
submitted to the Oireachtas by end2010. Where it is appropriate in line
with the above criteria, the process of
implementing liability management
exercises similar to that which is
currently being undertaken in relation
to holders of subordinated debt in Anglo
Irish Bank will be commenced by end-Q1
2011.
iii. Structural reforms

To facilitate adjustment in the labour
market
The government will introduce
legislation to reform the minimum wage
in such a way as to foster job creation
notably for categories at higher risk of
unemployment and prevent distortions
of wage conditions across sectors
associated with the presence of sectoral
minimum wages in addition to the
national minimum wage. Measures will
be as follows:
- Reduce by 1.00 per hour the nominal
level of the current national minimum
wage.
- Enlarge the scope of the "inability to
pay clause" permitting firms to invoke
this clause more than once;
These measures should come into effect
by May 2011.
An independent review of the
Framework REA and ERO arrangements
will be initiated by the end of Q1 2011.
Terms of Reference and follow up
actions will be agreed with European
Commission Services.
To reduce the risk of long-term
unemployment
The government will reform the
unemployment benefit system in such a
way as to provide incentives for an early
exit from unemployment. This reform of
unemployment and social assistance

benefits will be part of overall reforms
in the welfare system designed to reach
budgetary savings of 750m in 2011.
Legislative measures will be introduced
with a view to:
Taking steps to tackle unemployment
and poverty traps including through
reducing replacement rates for
individuals receiving more than one
type of benefit (including housing
allowance).
20
The government reforming the system
of activation policies in such a way as to
adapt it to the reform in benefits and
make it more effective. Legislative and
other measures will be introduced with
a view to:
- improving the efficiency of the
administration of unemployment
benefits, social assistance and active
labour market policies, by exploiting
synergies and reducing the overlapping
of competencies across different
departments;
- enhancing conditionality on work and
training availability;
- strengthening activation measures via:
i. the introduction of instruments to
better identify of job seekers' needs
("profiling") and increased engagement;
ii. a more effective monitoring of
jobseekers' activities with regular

evidence-based reports;
iii. the application of sanction
mechanisms for beneficiaries not
complying with job- search
conditionality and recommendations for
participation in labour market
programmes set in such a way as to
imply an effective loss of income
without being perceived as excessively
penalising so that it could credibly be
used whenever lack of compliance is
ascertained.
At each subsequent review of the
programme, the government will submit
reports containing an assessment
(including by means of quantitative
indicators) of the management of
activation policies and on the outcome
of job seekers' search activities and
participation in labour market
programmes.
Legislative measures should come into
effect by May 2011.
An in-depth review of the personal debt
regime will be published shortly. Work
will commence on reform of legislation
which will balance the interests of both
creditors and debtors.
2. Actions for the second review
(actions to be completed by end Q22011) i. Fiscal consolidation

procedure. Progress will be assessed
against the (cumulative) quarterly
primary deficit ceilings in the
Memorandum of Economic and Financial
Polices (MEFP) including the Technical
Memorandum of Understanding (TMU).
The government will submit a timetable
for implementing the recommendations
of the Memorandum. Upon
consideration by the European
Commission, IMF and ECB staffs the
measures in this timetable shall become
the performance benchmarks for future
reviews.
- The results of the PCAR for 2011 will
be assessed by the authorities, together
with the European Commission, the ECB
and the IMF. The results will be

published in detail and on a bank-bybank basis.
- Depending on the results of the PCAR
2011, the Government will ensure that
the banks are recapitalised in the form
of equity, if needed, so as to ensure that
the minimum capital requirement of
10.5% will be maintained.
- Introduce legislation for the
enhancement of financial regulation,
expanding the supervisory and
enforcement powers of the Central
Bank.
- The Irish authorities will ensure that
ILP is recapitalised to a level of 12%
core tier 1 capital.
- Progress in implementation of the
strategy for the reorganisation of Irish
credit institutions will be assessed by
the authorities, together with the
IMF.
To enhance long-term fiscal
sustainability
- The Authorities undertake to introduce
legislation to increase the state pension
age. Under the Governments National
Pension Framework the age at which
people will qualify for the State Pension
will be increased to 66 years in 2014, 67
in 2021 and 68 in 2028.
iv. Structural fiscal reforms

To reinforce a credible budgetary
strategy
- The government will continue to
ensure the reliability and the regular
availability of budgetary data for both
the whole of the general government
sector and its breakdown into
government layers. Specifically,
reporting will comply with the
provisions included in annex 1 of the
MoU.
- Under the period of this financial
assistance programme, any additional
unplanned revenues must be allocated
to debt reduction.
- In accordance with the proposal set
out in the National Recovery Plan 20112014, the government will establish a
budgetary advisory council to provide
an independent assessment of the
Governments budgetary position and
forecasts.
- Government extends the voluntary 15
day rule relating to prompt payments to
the health service executive, local
authorities and state agencies.
3. Actions for the third review (actions
to be completed by end Q3-2011) i.
Fiscal consolidation

Government will consider an
appropriate adjustment, including to
the overall public service wage bill, to
compensate for potential shortfalls in
the projected savings arising from
administrative efficiencies and public
service numbers reductions.
ii. Financial sector reforms
- Interim review of progress under PLAR
2011 and any related actions will be
assessed, together with the European
- Progress in implementing the strategy
for the reorganisation of Irish credit
institutions will be assessed by the

authorities, together with the European
- Review progress against PCAR
requirements.
To increase growth in the domestic
services sector
Government will introduce legislative
changes to remove restrictions to trade
and competition in sheltered sectors
including:
- the legal profession, establishing an
independent regulator for the
profession and
implementing the recommendations of
the Legal Costs Working Group and
outstanding
Competition Authority recommendations
to reduce legal costs.
- medical services, eliminating
restrictions on the number of GPs
qualifying and removing
restrictions on GPs wishing to treat
public patients as well as restrictions on
advertising.
- the pharmacy profession, ensuring
that the recent elimination of the 50%
mark-up paid for
medicines under the State's Drugs
Payments Scheme is enforced.
To enhance competition in open markets
- Government should introduce reforms
to legislation to (1) empower judges to

impose fines and other sanctions in
competition cases in order to generate
more credible deterrence and (2)
require the competition authorities to
list restrictions in competition law which
exclude certain sectors from its scope
and to identify processes to address
those exclusions.
To encourage growth in the retail sector
- The government will conduct a study
on the economic impact of eliminating
the cap on the size of retail premises
with a view to enhancing competition
and lowering prices for consumers and
discuss implementation of its policy
implications with the Commission
services.
To put the public service pension system
on a more sustainable basis
- Pension entitlements for new entrants
to the public service will be reformed
with effect from 2011. This will include a
review of accelerated retirement for
certain categories of public servants
and an indexation of pensions to
consumer prices. Pensions will be based
on career average earnings. New public
service entrants will also see a 10% pay
reduction. New entrants' retirement age
will also be linked to the state pension
retirement age.
To ensure a more credible fiscal

framework
24
- Assessment of work in progress
related to the fiscal governance
requirements considered in the previous
quarters.
To facilitate better government at a
local level
4. i.
Government will ensure that effective
measures are in place to cap the
contribution of the local government
sector to general government borrowing
at an acceptable level. The mechanisms
in place to underpin this position will be
kept under close review, in consultation
with the Commission services. The
review will also consider how to provide
data on the financial position including
assets and liabilities of the sector on a
timelier basis.
Actions for the fourth review (actions to
be completed by end Q4-2011) Fiscal
consolidation

The government will provide a draft
budget for 2012 aiming to further
reduce the general government deficit
in line with the National Recovery Plan
and the programme and including the
detailed presentation of consolidation
measures amounting to at least 3.6bn.
- Revenue measures to yield 1,500m2
in a full year will be introduced,
including:
bands and credits.
- A reduction in private pension tax
reliefs.
expenditures.
- A property tax.
- A reform of capital gains tax and
acquisitions tax.
- An increase in the carbon tax.
- The budget will provide for a reduction
of expenditure in 2012 of 2,100m
including:
- Social expenditure reductions.
- Reduction of public service numbers.
and public service pension adjustments.
- Other programme expenditure, and
reductions in capital expenditure.
The Authorities will introduce measures
to ensure that the deficit reduction

targets as set out in the National
Recovery Plan are achieved.
2 Inclusive of 2011 carryover
25
- Progress in implementing of the
IMF.
To assist in financing need and to
increase competition
- Building on the forthcoming report of
the Review Group on State Assets &
Liabilities the government will
undertake an independent assessment
of the electricity and gas sectors. State
authorities will consult with the
Commission Services on the results of
this assessment with a view to setting

appropriate targets.
In advance of the introduction of water
charges
- The government will have undertaken
an independent assessment of transfer
of responsibility for water services
provision from local authorities to a
water utility, and prepare proposals for
implementation, as appropriate with a
view to start charging in 2012/2013.
To reinforce the credibility of the
budgetary process
quarters.
- The Government will introduce a Fiscal
Responsibility Law which will include
provision for a medium-term
expenditure framework with binding
multi-annual ceilings on expenditure in
each area by Q4 2011. This will take into
account any revised economic
governance reforms at EU level and will
build on reforms already in place.
26
5. Actions for the fifth review (actions to
be completed by end Q1-2012) i. Fiscal
consolidation

Understanding (TMU). Finance Bill 2012
will contain necessary provisions to
bring into effect the already signalled
VAT increases in 2013 and 2014.
- PCAR for 2012 will be completed. The
methodology used will be published in
detail. The Government will ensure that
the banks adhere to the requisite
capital ratios.
- PLAR 2012 will be completed and any
related actions will be assessed,
together with the European

IMF
- Legislation to reform the personal debt
regime to be presented to the Houses of
the Oireachtas.
.
To boost the integrity of the fiscal
framework
quarters.
6. Actions for the sixth review (actions
Fiscal Consolidation
1of MEFP) and the general government
be assessed, together with European

Commission, the ECB and the IMF. The
results will then be published in detail
and on a bank-by-bank basis.
strategy for the restructuring of the
Irish credit institutions banking system
will be assessed by the authorities,
iii. Structural fiscal reforms
To further enhance the credibility of the
fiscal framework
7. i.
Assessment of work in progress related
to the fiscal governance requirements
considered in the previous quarters.
Actions for the seventh review (actions
to be completed by end Q3- 2012)

strategy for restructuring of the Irish
IMF.
requirements.
8. Actions for the eighth review (actions
The government will provide a draft
budget for 2013 aiming at a further
reduction of the general government
deficit in line with the 4-year plan and
the programme and including the
detailed presentation of consolidation
measures amounting to at least
3,100m.
- Revenue measures to raise at least
1,100m3 in the full year will be
introduced, including:
bands and credits.
- A reduction in private pension tax
relief.
expenditures.
- An increase in property tax.
- The budget will provide for a reduction
in expenditure in 2013 of no less than
2,000m, including:
- Social expenditure reductions.
- Reduction of public service numbers
and public service pension adjustments.
- Other programme expenditure, and
reductions in capital expenditure.
IMF.
- Implementing of the plan for
restructuring and strengthening the
balance sheets of the credit union
sector will be completed.

3 Inclusive of carryover from 2012
9. Actions for the ninth review (actions
- PCAR for 2013 will be completed. The
methodology used will be published in
detail.
- PLAR 2012 will be completed and any
related actions will be assessed,

IMF.
iii. Structural fiscal reforms
related to the fiscal reforms considered
in the previous quarters.
- The nominal value of the State pension
should not rise over the period of the
programme.
10. Actions for the tenth review (actions
ii. Financial sector reforms
be assessed, together the European
Commission, the ECB and the IMF. The
results will then be published in detail

and on a bank-by-bank basis.
- The PLAR for 2013 will be completed.
strategy for the restructuring the
banking system will be assessed by the
authorities, together with the European
11. Actions for the eleventh review
(actions to be completed by end Q32013)
i. Fiscal Consolidation
1of MEFP) and the general government

IMF.
requirements
Actions for the twelfth review (actions
to be completed by end Q4- 2013)
i. Fiscal Consolidation
IMF.
Annex 1. Provision of data
During the programme, the following
indicators and reports shall be made
available to the European Commission,
the ECB and the IMF staffs by the
authorities on a regular basis.

To be provided by the Department of
Finance
Monthly data on adherence to budget
targets (Exchequer statement, details
on Exchequer revenues and expenditure
with information on Social Insurance
Fund to follow as soon as practicable).
Updated monthly report on the central
government's budget execution and
prospects for the remainder of the year.
Quarterly data on main revenue and
expenditure items of local government.
Updated annual plans for the general
government balance showing transition
from the Exchequer balance to the
general government balance (using
presentation in Table 1 and Table 2A of
the EDP notification).
Quarterly data on the public service
wage bill, number of employees and
average wage (using the presentation of
the Pay and Pension Bill with further
details on pay and pension costs of local
authorities). Information on the main
Government spending and receipt items
Quarterly data on general government
accounts, and general government debt
as per the relevant EU regulations on
statistics. Updated annual plans of the
general government balance and its
breakdown into revenue and
expenditure components for the current
year and the following four years, using

presentation in the stability
programme's standard table on general
government budgetary prospects.
To be provided by the NTMA
Weekly information on the
Government's cash position with
indication of sources as well of number
of days covered
Data on below-the-line financing for the
general government.
Data on public debt, new guarantees
and other instruments issued by the
general government to public
enterprises, banks and the private
sector.
Data on short-, medium- and long-term
debt falling due (all instruments) over
the next 36 months for the general
government (interest and amortisation)
and for central government and local
authorities
Data on short-, medium- and long-term
debt falling due (all instruments) over
the next 36 months for Stateguaranteed enterprises (interest and
amortisation) (or Dept of Finance)
Updated estimates of financial sources
(bonds issuance, other financing
sources) for the banking and
government sectors in the next 12
months
Monthly, 10 days after the end of each
month
month
Quarterly, 90 days after the end of each
quarter
month
quarter
Weekly on Friday, reporting on the
previous Thursday Quarterly accrual
data, 90 days after the end of each
quarter Together with EDP notification
Weekly on Friday, reporting on the
previous Thursday Monthly, no later
than 15 days after the end of each
month Monthly, 30 days after the end of
each month
month
quarter
month
To be provided by the Central Bank
Assets and liabilities of the Central Bank
Assets and liabilities of the Irish
banking system - aggregate monetary
balance sheet of credit institutions
Short-, medium- and long-term debt
falling due (by type of instrument) over
the next 36 months for domestic banks
of systemic importance (interest and
amortisation).
Weekly individual operational balance
sheets of commercial banks (of systemic
importance), including detailed
information on deposits (by maturity
and type of depositor) and loans
provided to the public and the private
sector (households and corporates)
Weekly, next working day Monthly, 30
days after the end of each month
month
Weekly, next working day
33
Public debt and new guarantees issued
by the general government to banks.
Financial stability indicators (IMF core
set: deposits, non-performing loans,
capital adequacy ratios)) for systemic
domestic banks Estimates of domestic
banks' capital needs in the next 12
months
Estimates of funding sources for the
banking sector for the next 12 months
month
month
month
month
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (TMU)
3 December, 2010
1. This Technical Memorandum of
Understanding (TMU) sets out the
understandings regarding the
definitions of the indicators subject to
performance criteria and indicative
targets under the arrangement
supported by the Extended Fund Facility
(EFF). These performance criteria and
indicative targets are reported in Table
1 attached to the Memorandum of
Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP).
This TMU also describes the methods to
be used in assessing the programme
performance and the information
requirements to ensure adequate
monitoring of the targets.
2. For programme purposes, all foreign
currency-related assets, liabilities, and
flows will be evaluated at programme
exchange rates, with the exception of
the items affecting the government
fiscal balances, which will be measured
at current exchange rates. The
programme exchange rates are those
that prevailed on November 24, as
shown on the European Central bank
web-page, in particular, 1 = 1.3339
U.S. dollar and 1 = 0.86547 SDR.
I.
3.
measures the net surplus or net deficit
position of the Exchequer Account. The

Exchequer Account is the single bank
account of the Central Fund and is held
at the Central Bank of Ireland. The
annual audited accounts of the
Exchequer Account produced by the
Department of Finance are known as
the Finance Accounts. An unaudited
summary known as the Exchequer
Statement is produced at the end of
each month. Under the Irish
Constitution, all Government receipts
are paid in to the Central Fund and all
Government expenditure is funded from
it, unless provided otherwise by law.4
The Exchequer balance is the difference
between total receipts into, and total
expenditure out of, the Exchequer
Account. It measures the sum of the
current and capital balances. The
current balance is defined as current
receipts (tax and non-tax revenue)
minus current expenditure (voted
expenditure and non-voted expenditure
charged directly on the Central Fund,
including the Sinking Fund). The capital
balance is defined as capital receipts
(Sinking Fund and other capital
receipts) minus capital expenditure
(voted and non-voted expenditure). The
Sinking Fund provision is a transfer
from
4 Receipts of the Central Fund comprise
Exchequer tax revenues, non-tax

revenues, receipts from the European
Union and other capital receipts.
Charges on the Central Fund include the
expenditure of Government
departments and offices, payments
related to the servicing of the national
debt, payments to the European Union
Budget, the salaries, pensions and
allowances of the President, judiciary,
and Comptroller & Auditor General and
the running costs of the Houses of the
Oireachtas (Parliament). Extrabudgetary funds (including the National
Pensions Reserve Fund), the Social
Insurance Fund, semi-state bodies and
local governments are not part of the
Exchequer system.
QUANTITATIVE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
AND INDICATIVE TARGETS
A. Floor on the Exchequer Primary
Balance
The exchequer balance is the traditional
domestic budgetary aggregate which
the current account to the capital
account to reduce national debt and has
no effect on the overall exchequer
balance.
4. The performance criteria are set on
the exchequer primary balance (the
exchequer balance excluding net debt
interest payments in the service of the
National Debt)5.
5. For the purposes of the programme,

the floor on the exchequer primary
balance (quantitative performance
criterion) will be adjusted downward by
payments for bank restructuring carried
out under the programmes banking
sector support and restructuring
strategy. Such payments may include,
inter alia, loans to banks, investments
in their equity (requited
recapitalisation), unrequited
recapitalisation, and purchases of
troubled assets, which are carried out in
line with programme objectives. Any
other financial operation by Government
to support banks, including the issuance
of guarantees or provision of liquidity,
will be reported to IMF staff.
6. The floor on the exchequer primary
balance (quantitative performance
criterion) in each year will be measured
cumulatively from the start of that
calendar year.
Cumulative Exchequer primary balance
From January 1, 2010:
End-December 2010 (performance
criterion)
From January 1, 2011:
End-March 2011 (performance criterion)
End-June 2011 (indicative target)
End-September 2011 (indicative target)
End-December 2011 (indicative target)
(In billions of Euros)
-15.3
-7.8 -11.0 -14.3
-14.6
7. The performance criterion on the
exchequer primary balance (floor) for
end-March 2011 and thereafter, will be
adjusted upward (downward) for the full
amount of any over- performance
(under-performance) in Exchequer tax
revenues, pay-related social insurance
contributions (PRSI), health levy and
national training fund contributions
against the current projection which is
listed below6:
Cumulative Exchequer tax revenue &
other receipts (as outlined in 7. above)
(In billions of Euros) 9.7
End-March 2011 (projection)
End-June 2011 (projection) 19.4
End-September 2011 (projection) EndDecember 2011 (projection)
29.7 41.9
5 Net debt interest payments are as
per the end-month Exchequer
Statements.
6 Exchequer tax receipts are comprised
of income tax, value added tax (VAT),
corporation tax, excise duties, stamp
duties, capital gains tax, capital
acquisitions tax and customs duties.
36
8. Any policy changes, including in tax
administration and enforcement, which
impact the above revenue projection

will lead to a reassessment of the
adjustor in the context of program
reviews.
B. Ceiling on the Stock of Central
Government Net Debt
9. The stock of central government net
debt, for the purposes of the
programme, is defined as the National
Debt, less liquid assets of the National
Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF). The
National Debt is defined as the total
outstanding amount of principal
borrowed by central government and
not repaid to date, less liquid assets
available for redemption of those
liabilities at the same date. These liquid
assets comprise the Exchequer cash
balances (including cash in the Capital
Services Redemption Account),
Exchequer deposits with commercial
banks and other institutions,
investments in investment grade
sovereign bills. For the purposes of the
programme, NPRF liquid assets include
the asset classes listed above, and also
all marketable securities such as
equities, government bonds and other
listed investments. NPRF shares in
domestic Irish banks are excluded from
the definition of liquid assets.
10. For the purposes of the programme,
the ceiling on the central government
net debt (indicative target) will be

adjusted upward by debt arising from
payments for bank restructuring carried
out under the programmes banking
sector support and restructuring
strategy. These payments may include,
inter alia, loans to banks, investments
in their equity (requited
recapitalisation); unrequited
recapitalisation; and purchases of
troubled assets, which are carried out in
line with programme objectives. The
programme exchange rates will apply to
all non-euro denominated debt.
11. The ceiling on the outstanding stock
of central government net debt will be
adjusted upward (downward) by the
amount of any final upward (downward)
revision to the stock of end-October
2010 central government net debt.
Central government net debt
Outstanding stock:
(In billions of Euros)
78.6 83.1 91.6 96.5 100.0 102.2
End-October 2010 (provisional) EndDecember 2010 (indicative target) EndMarch 2011 (indicative target) End-June
2011 (indicative target) End-September
2011 (indicative target) End-December
2011 (indicative target)
C.
Non-accumulation of External Payments
Arrears by Central Government
12.
programme period. For the purposes of
this performance criterion, an external
payment arrear will be defined as a
payment by the central government on
its contracted or guaranteed
The central government will accumulate
no external payment arrears during the
37
external debt that has not been made
within five business days after falling
due. The performance criterion will
apply on a continuous basis.
13. The stock of external payments
arrears of the central government will
be calculated based on the schedule of
external payments obligations reported
by the National Treasury Management
Agency. This performance criterion does
not cover arrears with regard to trade
credits.
II. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
14. Performance criteria under the
programme will be monitored using
data supplied to the IMF. The Irish
authorities will transmit promptly any
data revisions in a timely manner.
The Department of Finance will report
the Exchequer balance to the IMF staff,
with a lag of no more than seven days
after the test date.
The National Treasury Management
Agency will provide provisional figures
on the outstanding stock of net

government debt with a lag of no more
than seven days after the test date. The
revised figures will be provided within
three months of the test date.
The National Treasury Management
Agency will provide the final stock of
the central government system external
payments arrears to the IMF staff, with
a lag of not more than seven days after
the arrears arise in accordance with the
definition of external payments arrears
as set forth in paragraph 12 of this
memorandum.
EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland

http://www.finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/euimfrevised.pdf
Brian Cowen on infamous bailout denial july 8th 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L7ibqG5aow
CABINET PAPERS: THE

COWEN GOVERNMENT'S
WATER FILES
October 19, 2015
POST BODY
CONFIDENTIAL CABINET PAPERS HAVE BEEN
RELEASED TO RT'S THE WEEK IN POLITICS
The Fianna Fil-led coalition expected domestic water

charges to cost each household 500 per year, according to
confidential Cabinet papers that have been released to RT's
The Week in Politics.
By Conor McMorrow of RT's Political Staf
The papers dating from 2010 - the last year of Brian Cowen's
government - give an insight into the Fianna Fil/Greens coalition's
plans to introduce domestic water metering.
Brien Cowen
The coalition agreed at Cabinet on 15 September 2010 to establish

a new water agency and draft new legislation allowing for domestic
water meters - some two months before Ireland entered the Troika
bailout.
Charges
The last government estimated that it would cost 500m to install

water meters (an average cost of 500 per household) over five
years. But it anticipated the metering programme had the potential
to create between 1,200 and 1,800 jobs between 2011 and 2013.
It was estimated by the Department of the Environment (in a water
meters memo dated 15 September, 2010) that each household
would receive an estimated household bill of 330 per annum - this
excludes the additional cost of the meters and their installation.
Later email correspondence (dated 28 September 2010) from
Robert Watt, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Finance
(who is currently Secretary General of the Department of Public
Expenditure and Reform), to a finance department colleague
states "it is likely that a charge of 500 a year would be imposed.
This would meet operational costs and capital costs over time".
National water agency
The 2007-2011 government also proposed the establishment of a

new water agency to manage and deliver the metering programme,
and manage the procurement process for the installation, billing
and collection services.
"Local Authorities would continue to be responsible for the direct
provision of water and waste water treatment services," stated a
Department of the Environment memo.
It was anticipated that the new "national water agency" would keep
directly employed staff to a minimum and outsource more labour
intensive functions. It would directly employ around 25 personnel
with estimated annual costs of 4m per annum.
Background 'Ministerial Mercs' and budget cuts
There was a furore in July 2010 that the government had lost touch
with the public over images of "ministerial Mercs" driving ministers
to a special cabinet meeting in Farmleigh House to discuss budget
cuts.
Cabinet papers, released under the Freedom of Information Act
2014, show that "water metering for domestic connections" was
scheduled for debate at Farmleigh on 26 July 2010 but it was
deferred until September.
The issue was discussed by government at the Cabinet meetings
on 8 September and 15 September 2010.
A series of previously confidential government memos show that
Fianna Fil ministers Brian Lenihan (Finance), Mary Hanafin
(Tourism, Culture & Sport), Brendan Smith (Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food), Noel Dempsey (Transport) and Batt O'Keefe
(Enterprise, Trade & Innovation) along with Green Party ministers
Eamon Ryan (Communications, Energy & Natural Resources) and
John Gormley (Environment) were in favour of introducing a
domestic water metering programme.
The Cowen government's Renewed Programme for Government in

2009 included a commitment to introduce domestic water charges,
where households were allocated a free basic allowance and
charged for water used in excess of that allowance.
The documents, released to RT this week, detail the discussion

papers around proposals from the Minister for the Environment for
a programme of domestic water metering.
They refer to the period two months before government formally
requested financial aid from the EU/IMF on 10 November 2010.
Cabinet papers from the Farmleigh meeting offer an insight into
government at a time when the cost of borrowing was skyrocketing
out of control.
A memo labelled "Secret" and titled "Government Expenditure
Savings Options 2011-2014" states: "The public finances remain
extremely vulnerable and are coming under increasingly close
international scrutiny, particularly from the IMF, EU Commission
and international credit agencies."
A water referendum
The documents relating to the domestic water metering proposals
show that then minister for the environment, John Gormley, initially
sought a referendum so that the Constitution could be changed to
further protect against the privitisation of water in the future.
But this proposal was "deleted" from a later Cabinet memorandum
after observations were received, "particularly those of the
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources".
Minister Eamon Ryan's department highlighted "the complexities
involved" and suggested that any amendment to the Constitution
"could prove contentious and time-consuming".
It was decided that this issue be separately pursued with the
Attorney General.
The government's decision
According to the official 'Cruinniu Rialtais' document, released to
RT's The Week in Politics this week and dated 15 September
2010, the government approved the minister's proposals for a free
allowance of 40 litres of water per person per day with the cost of
the allowance to be met by the Exchequer.
The free allowance would commence at the same time as
domestic water charges.
The Fianna Fil/Green coalition also agreed to draft legislation to

establish the new water agency and remove the legal prohibition
on charging for domestic water services.
An "assessment of the implementation issues" would be carried
out in parallel by the seven relevant government departments.
Ministers' views on water charges
The newly-released Cabinet papers indicate the observations of
government departments and their line ministers on domestic
water charges.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley

Minister Gormley's department was spearheading the drive
towards domestic water metering as a means towards
conservation and the documents have been released by his old
department.
Mr Gormley was opposed to a flat rate charge as "it offers no
incentive for consumers to conserve water".
His proposal for a free water allowance of 40 litres per day per
person was modelled on the water charging structure used by the
regional government in Flanders, Belgium.
He did not consider it appropriate to seek full capital cost recovery
from the domestic sector.
But he did "consider it necessary for households to make a

contribution towards capital upgrading and replacement (including
the costs of installing, maintaining and replacing the water meters).
The minister is proposing that the water charge for each household
should include a contribution towards capital costs and to provide
for the repayment of the borrowings by the Agency."
The Department of the Environment noted that the installation of
meters will increase the detection of customer leaks and "typically
the most expensive leaks to repair are in the supply pipe which
runs from the connection at the boundary of the property, under
the property to the kitchen sink. It is estimated that the cost of
replacing this pipe is in the region of 1,500-2,000."
Minister Gormley advocated the introduction of some assistance
for householders faced with such leaks, for example, a grant
scheme towards the cost of the works.
Given the perilous state of the public finances in 2010, the
government realised that the water metering programme could not
be funded through sources such as Exchequer funding or EU
structural funds.
The only two viable funding options were local government
borrowing or setting up the new water agency.
Mr Gormley was "concerned that establishment of a new national
agency is not interpreted as opening up the possibility of privatising
water services in Ireland".
He said he would consult the Attorney General on the format of a
constitutional referendum if it was deemed necessary.
Later documents show that Minister Eamon Ryan's Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was among
those opposed to a referendum on water charges.
According to a draft cabinet memo, dated 15 September 2010, "the
application of the proposed free allowance of 40 litres per person
per day would result in an estimated average household bill of
330 per annum - this excludes the costs of the meters and their
installation".
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan

"The Minister for Finance favours the introduction of water charging
for domestic water services on a metered basis to encourage
conservation and as a means of generating revenue for local
authorities."
"The Minister favours the introduction of a flat rate charge to
remunerate the cost of the metering programme, pending the
coming on stream of volumetric charging."
"...the Minister is not opposed to the approach suggested in the
memorandum that would see the delivery and financing of a
metering programme through a new commercial semi-state body,
funded through borrowing and/or other financial instruments.
"He considers it imperative that the programme is commercialised

and that households pay for the cost of the meter installation
through a charge in their water metering bill."
"The Minister does not see the need for a constitutional
referendum on the public ownership of water resources."
"The Minister believes the metering programme should commence
as soon as possible to maximise the benefits to the Exchequer and
reduce borrowing costs."
Minister for Social Protection amon Cuv
"Believes income support for low income households is not

appropriate and that the Agency should be required to make
provision for such households."
"There should be a grant scheme for householders facing costs to
address leakage including 100% support for low income
households."
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Eamon Ryan
Minister Eamon Ryan was "generally supportive" of his party
leader John Gormley's proposals.
He noted the potential synergies between water metering and
smart metering in electricity and gas.
Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat
Carey
Minister Pat Carey said that a key issue is the impact that water
charges may have on households at risk of poverty or exclusion.
He said that officials from his department would be available to
provide advice on "poverty proofing" and a "poverty impact
assessment".
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keefe
Minister Batt O'Keefe "welcomes the general thrust of the proposal
to introduce water metering for domestic consumers and notes the
potential for 1,200-1,800 jobs per annum to be created over the
period 2011-2013".
He did caution that "it may be premature to proceed with the
creation of the new Agency in the absences of a clear pricing
structure and information on the structure of water policy in the
future".
"He strongly recommends the introduction of a flat rate charge in
advance of metered charges to support the public finances and the
funding of the water meters."
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Brendan Smith
"Supports the proposals and asks that the proposed review of
water pricing policy recognise that farms are relatively large users
of water."
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey
"Supports the proposals but believes to maximise public
acceptance their introduction should be accompanied by a
commensurate reduction in income tax."
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin
"The Minister welcomes the fact that the implementation of these
proposals would contribute to greater water conservation in line
with the broad sustainability agenda."
She suggested examining "the possibility of introducing an
increased free water allowance for listed Bed and Breakfast
premises as they service the needs of the tourist industry".
Other ministers....
Tnaiste and Minister for Education & Skills Mary Coughlan,
Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Michel Martin, Minister for Health Mary Harney, and Minister for
Justice Dermot Ahern did not make any observations on the water
memo. A number of these indicated that they would make their
observations known at the cabinet table.
How has this information come to light now?
Under the current Fine Gael/Labour government's revised
Freedom of Information legislation that passed through the Dil last
year, cabinet papers dating back five years may be released.
And another thing...
The documents obtained this week reveal how far advanced the
government's plans for introducing domestic water charges were
even before the Troika arrived in November 2010.
Yet it was only relatively recently that the first domestic water bills
arrived and meters are still being installed.
It does raise the question of why the current Fine Gael/Labour
coalition did not forge ahead with the plans sooner?
As one current Fianna Fil TD put it: "All the current crowd had to
do was bring the water charges in at the start of their term in office.
They had a honeymoon period in 2011-2012 where they could
have brought them in and blamed the IMF and Fianna Fil!"
We are about to have the second election since the cabinet
meeting at Farmleigh.
The political landscape has changed since then. But the water
issue certainly hasn't gone away.
IRISH WATER WAS FINE GAEL

POLICY ALONE FIANNA FIL
DISMISS 500 WATER
CHARGE ACCUSATIONS
October 19, 2015
Fianna Fail TD for Laois-Offaly
FIANNA FIL HAS moved to distance itself from the row over
water charges created by the release of cabinet papers detailing
the previous governments work on setting up a water agency.
In a statement to TheJournal.ie the opposition partys environment
spokesman Barry Cowen has said that the mess surrounding
Irish Water is solely the responsibility of the government.
The cabinet papers were released last week to RTEs The Week In
Politics. In detailing how the previous Fianna Fil government
planned to implement water charges they serve as a reminder of
the kind of bills the public can expect to eventually pay according
to the Anti Austerity Alliance.
The previous government had estimated that any water charges
incurred would lead to estimated bills of 500 per household per
year, and that the installation of water meters alone would cost
500 million over five years.
Barry Cowen TD
Its no secret that water charges were being considered at the

peak of the global crisis as part of the response to alleviating
Irelands debt at that time. The 500 charge per household was an
estimate worked out by the Department of Finance based on
recovering the full operating costs, Cowen said.
"At no stage was it agreed to charge 500 per household nor were
any charges brought forward in the previous governments
budgets. Any attempt to suggest otherwise is deeply
disingenuous."
"The previous government implemented 70% of the budget
adjustment that was needed so that Ireland could recover as

quickly as possible. It did so without introducing water charges."
"The current government then went on to complete the budget
adjustment process, again without introducing water charges."
Irish Water was established because it was Fine Gael policy. The
mess that has emerged is solely the responsibility of this
government, he added.
Earlier
Ruth Coppinger TD Anti Austerity Alliance
Ruth Coppinger, Anti Austerity Alliance TD for Dublin West, says

that the information released shows that Fine Gael and Labour
are clearly implementing the same plan which was drawn up by
Fianna Fil and the Greens.
The main point to this is that its a reminder to the public about
where water charges are ultimately heading, she said.
"They are seeking to eventually get to a situation of full cost
recovery through domestic water charges which will mean bills of
500 per household. We have consistently made the argument that
concessions like the cap, the so-called conservation grant, and
other ideas which they had like the free water allowance which they
scrapped were only temporary that their ultimate goal was full cost
recovery."
After strenuous objection from the public at the scale of mooted
bills, water charges were capped at a relatively low level by the
government until at least 2018. The current flat rates stand at 160
per year for a single adult household and 240 annually for a multiadult dwelling.
RTEs cabinet papers reveal that former Green party leader and
Minister for the Environment John Gormley was opposed to
capping charges as it offered no incentive for consumers to
conserve water.
The documents similarly reveal how far advanced the previous
government were with plans to introduce water charges by
September 2010, two months prior to the arrival of the Troika.
The release of this information should make for a reminder for the
public and water charges movement of the necessity to maintain
and build the massive boycott which has been built over the last
few months, said Coppinger.
WHO CAN YOU TRUST AND

THE POLITICAL
SHENANIGANS IN THE ANTI

WATER CHARGES CAMPAIGN?
October 2, 2016
POST BODY
by James Quigley
<img
src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55075f84e4b0f11bacb1b8d0/t/
57f1884c20099ef24d257bd1/1475448463272/"alt="EoinO'Broin,Sinn
FeinTDpicturebyTomBurke,IrishIndependent"/>
Eoin O'Broin, Sinn Fein TDpicture by Tom Burke, Irish Independent
There's a degree of poetic license taken here but maybe not

as much as that taken by political parties, some individuals
and trade unions over who is or isn't the stalwart defenders
and spokespersons for the nationwide anti water charges
campaign.
Peoples' power, the backbone of the campaign, has been
usurped and the hard fought anti water movement is now at a
crossroads. One road leading to a political quagmire where
power has been wrested from ordinary people by political

parties, unions and their devotees. This road has culminated
in the movement followingparticular agendas.
Maybe it is well past the time we take the other road and wrest
back our movement. With a hammer break the politicos' glass
bubble and with the sickle cut off the head of these selfobsessed union officials and the political party hydras.
Maybe it is more like a sledgehammer and scythe that is
needed for them to get the message.
This article has been inspired by a friend of mine who describes
himself as 'a bit of a farmer'. You notice farmers never tell you
much about their business. Maybe they are right, big brother
knows far too much already. Patrick is or has been a Fianna Fail
supporter and voter. By the sounds of him, he is now teetering on
the brink of apathy or possible anarchy.
Much like myself when it comes to the political chicanery of our
mealy mouthed, bloated, self-important public servants. When
politicians cross that ballot line all promises and truth goes out the
window and the party machine takes over. They get accustomed to
their well stuffed pockets and bellies feeding on the promises of
party politics and self importance hyperbole.
My friend, Patrick, the soon to be repentant Fianna Fil supporter,
is an avid anti water charge campaigner. He marched the length
and breadth of the country along with all the other 'salt of the earth'
anti austerity, anti corruption supporters. By the way he is a strong
supporter of the water charge boycott campaign. A sound man and
one who can be relied upon to speak his mind and just as
important, listen to others.
On Friday morning he phoned me to ask whether I read the Irish
Independent article 'Latest bid to scrap water charges fails as FF
and FG unite' and what did I think of it? By his tone I felt he was
feeling down, dejected. Afterwards I thought that many people
would be feeling like this.
I hadn't read the article and believe it or not I didn't even know that
there was yet another Dil motion put forward by Sinn Fein on the
abolition of Water Charges. It was defeated 94 to 47, see the web
page 'Kildare Street:Are Your TDs Working For You'. What a good
name?
Patrick was despondent partly because he is a Fianna Fail voter
and they voted against the Sinn Fein motion but also because he
feels so strongly about the issue. This nationwide, grassroots
issue has now been usurped by political parties, union officials,
whose well oiled and financed party machines who along with
their, 'gift of the gab' forked tongued, unscrupulous aficionados
have worked their way to positions of power, always, always
pushing their own agendas. It may be pushing it a bit to describe
them as Stalinist but dissent and democracy are no-nos.
Talking with Patrick, I got the feeling he was becoming more
cynical and sceptical. I suppose given the circumstances it is not
surprising. Our anti water charges ship is adrift, rudderless, having
been steered into the doldrums of a politically orchestrated
'Domestic Water Commission' where it will remain drifting until next
year, 2017 when this so called 'independent commission' will report
back and a vote will be taken in the Dil.
Water Commission timing and the 'River Basin Management
Plan'
The timing here is very important not only for the subject of this
article but also because this commission, whose final result is a
foregone conclusion, is happening simultaneously with another
more important and mind-bogglingly ignored River Basin
Management Plan. Sinn Fein, Right2Water Trade Unions and
Fianna Fil have all been notified about this. You possibly have
heard about the Water Framework Directive 2000 and the9.4
Exemption. You may not be aware of it's importance and how this
little 9.4 section is the Government's Water Charges Achilles heel.
To date none of the above parties have replied or even said a
dicky-bird about the River Basin Management Plan. Is that not

surprising given that this plan will be the national water policy for
the next 5 years, incorporating pricing policy and our water
structure. Now what could be more important than that?
Buncrana Together in other articles will produce what we
have been able to find out so far about the River Basin
Management Plan, the Water Framework Directive and the
importance of the 9.4 Exemption.
Incidentally do you know that the idea for a 'Water Commission'
originated with Eoin O'Broin. You don't? Well then look up this
RTE This Week, Mar 13, 2016 interview. They all need a get-out
clause, an official way to get out of their commitments and what
better way than, with shrug of the shoulder, blame it on the
commission. Or if that isn't enough, all the good Euro supporters
have to do is acquiesce to EU orders.
<img
src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55075f84e4b0f11bacb1b8d0/t/
57f18e32b3db2ba633452474/1475449240952/barrycowan.jpg"
alt="BarryCowen,TD,FiannaFilCollinsphotoagency"/>
Barry Cowen, TD, Fianna FilCollins photo agency
In the meantime while we drift in the doldrums, Sinn Fein and

Fianna Fail are both accusing each other of political opportunism,
see Irish Mirror 'Sinn Fein Accused of Pulling a PR Stunt, and the
Irish Independent article 'Latest Bid to Scrap Water Charges'. Eoin
O'Broin and Barry Cowen go head to head.
You know both are right. It's like the kettle calling the pot black,
both are using the anti water charge's movement for all it's worth,
for political party purposes and their own agendas. I suppose we
are accustomed to Fianna Fail manoeuvers. They are at it for
years. But the motives and moves of Sinn Fin, the new kids in
Dil ireann must be scrutinised because they, along with
Right2Water trade unions and hand picked community enablers
have put themselves at the helm of the anti water charges'
movement.
Patrick's question
Patrick question was "do you think we are going to be let down by
Fianna Fil, can we rely on them to fulfill their promises?"
Isn't that a good question? Can anyone answer that? It is also a
question that can be put to any of the establishment's political
parties including Sinn Fein who all on paper support the anti water
movement. Is is a fair question and another one that could be
asked is; do you follow your party's agenda or the wishes of the
people?
Speaking about Sinn Fin and their partners the Right2Water
Unions, how can we trust people who act in secrecy, who have
usurped power, who never supported the Boycott campaign, who
have orchestrated a putsch against the AAA and others, risking
and splitting the nationwide campaign, who never organised a true
democratic, nationwide, accountable organisation?
There are some of us who don't believe the hype, the photo shoot
opportunities and Dil grandstandings, the propaganda, the
promises. If they are genuine then let them prove it, not by silly
Dil party oriented motions whose result anyone could have
foreseen or which only were only going to produce negative
consequences for the campaign. Let them prove it by joining the
one thing that empowers the grassroots, the Boycott Campaign,
something that we have done, we own and which resulted in the
political situation today. Let them prove it by actively supporting
the Jobstown defendants, who are facing the wrath and might of
the establishment. Let them prove it by owning their mistakes,
listening to the grassroots and at last give people back the power
by establishing a democratic and inclusive organisation.
Fianna Fil on the other hand, as a party remained aloof, never
being part of the anti water charge movement. However, many of
their supporters were. Patrick's question is very relevant to them.
Are we going to be let down? Given their political commitments
and negative recent history, they have got a lot to prove. One way
they could do this is by publishing what they are going to do about
the 9.4 Exemption, the River Basin Management Plan, answering
our questions. After all it was the Fianna Fil party who were in
power in 2000, the time of the Water Framework Directive and it
was they who negotiated the 9.4 exemption.
Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen has accused Sinn

Fein of pulling a PR stunt by calling for water
charges to be immediately dumped.
The party will table a motion asking for the
hated tap tax to be totally abolished when the
Dail returns on September 27th.
But Mr Cowen - whose party agreed to just
suspend the water levy - says its not realistic
to just bin the tax.
The Offaly TD said: Sinn Fein come out from
under the rocks now and again. We will not
support the motion because it has now basis in
law, its not a money Bill.
Its a stunt. Its a PR exercise to give the
impression that this can be done in such a
simple fashion. Thats not how this works.
They (water charges) have been taken off the
market to allow an expert commission the time
and the space to put forward real alternatives
for the way in which our water is paid for.
A government formation agreement between
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael earlier this year saw

water bills suspended.
Collins Photo Agency
Barry Cowen TD
But the future of the disastrous utility firm is still

up in the air.
Fine Gael is determined to keep the tax while
Fianna Fail wants them suspended
Speaking to Sean ORourke on RTE Radio 1 on
Monday morning, the brother of former
Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted his party has
not done a u-turn on water charges since the
general election in February.
Its not a u-turn. I dont know any party that
can give a commitment beyond the term of
government. We dont expect to tell people
what is going to happen for the next ten years.
Our position is exactly as it was in our
manifesto. In order to facilitate the government,
we recognised that this issue had to be dealt

with," he said.
Separately, Fianna Fail has demanded that
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan adds an
extra 5 per week to the old age pension to
make up for savage cuts in the past.
The partys finance spokesman Michael McGrath
said: We make no apologies for prioritising the
needs of elderly people who have taken really
savage cuts in the past few years - the
household benefits package, the telephone
allowance was taken away, the reduction in
electricity units, prescription charges.
Sinn Fein Deputy Eoin Broin said: If Fianna
Fil were serious about ending water charges
they would support the Sinn Fin motion that
would force the Government into introducing
the necessary legislation.
Given the latest shift in Micheal Martions
position on water charges it is now clear that
there is no need for Commission or a special
Dil committee to examine the issue further.
All those TDs who support the full abolition of
water charges should support the Sinn Fin
motion.
06/08/2015 Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan
Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan added: The reality is

that we do not have to wait nine months for a
so-called expert commission to recommend the
scrapping of water charges.
The Dil can vote in favour of abolition as early
as next week and, in doing so, deliver what
people actually voted for at the General Election
in February.
They didnt vote for a suspension of water
charges. People want to see them scrapped.
1
Sinn Fin TD Eoin Broin e
The latest political attempt to defeat water

charges has failed.
Sinn Fin's motion, which proposed the scrapping of
charges entirely, was comfortably defeated following a
series of Dil votes.
The final vote saw a Government counter motion pass by
94 votes to 47.
The counter motion expressed confidence in the
Independent Expert Commission and overrode the Sinn
Fin motion to scrap charges and fund water through
general taxation.
Despite campaigning during the General Election for the
suspension of charges, Fianna Fil sided with the
Government to ensure the proposal failed.
It was the first time the new electronic voting system was
used by TDs.
However, Sinn Fin last night ramped up pressure on
Fianna Fil over its decision to back the Government.

Sinn Fin TD Eoin Broin said Fianna Fil's vote was part
of its plan to side once again with Fine Gael after the
recommendation of the Independent Commission on
water charges.
"Clearly, the party is making space for itself so that they
can make a deal with Fine Gael," the Dublin Mid West TD
told the Irish Independent last night.
"The party has gone from one extreme of supporting the
suspension of the charge to the full abolition. Clearly, they
are leaving themselves open to some arrangement with
Fine Gael," he added.
The expert commission, members of which were
recommended by Fianna Fil, is due to begin its work in
November.
The issue will then go to an Oireachtas committee for
consideration.
Finally, the Dil will vote on whether water charges should
be re-introduced.
This will take place in the spring.
Fianna Fil sources last night expressed relief at the
prospect of water charges being off the political agenda for
a few weeks at least.
As reported this week, party leader Michel Martin was
criticised privately by members of his front bench over the
party's new position on the matter. TDs say they have been
getting criticism locally as a result of this stance.
Irish Water will get a 660m bailout this year but a decision to
suspend water charges could have big consequences for funding
other services next year, warns Housing Minister Simon Coveney.
by Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner
His suggestion was backed by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal

Donohoe who said funding for Irish Water would compete with
other demands such as housing.
The pre-budget cautions put Fine Gael directly at odds with Fianna
Fil, which wants water charges suspended indefinitely. Taoiseach
Enda Kenny yesterday accused Fianna Fil of a reversal to oldschool populism in insisting water charges not be reintroduced.
Funding for Irish Water is being considered by a commission on
water charges, due to report in November.
Mr Coveney said the 2017 position on funding for Irish Water is
dependent on what the commission and a follow-up Dil committee
conclude.
It had been planned that the subvention, or bailout, for Irish Water
would be 479m. Irish Water estimates its shortfall from water
charges to be 181m for this year. This brings the total subvention
needed for Irish Water this year to 660m, Mr Coveney told the
Oireachtas housing committee.
The 181m shortfall will be plugged by the 110m that was to go to

the water conservation grant, a 58m loan to Irish Water, and
another 13m still to be found.
Mr Coveney said the 110m from the conservation grant would not
be there next year. Lets be honest about this, if the Oireachtas
decides to do away with water charges, then we still need to
progress and deliver on the significant capital expenditure
programme that Irish Water needs to deliver on, he said.
That will have to come through other revenue raising and
presumably general taxation, which then limits our ability to spend
in other areas and also undermines the water conservation
incentive that comes with having some link between what people
pay and how much they use, never mind all the issues around
water directives.
Funding for Irish Water will be discussed when the commission
reports and in the context of the budget, the committee was told.
Mr Coveney said: But the choices we make have consequences,
big consequences, because regardless of what way you cut it, we
have to invest billions of euros over the next five years in water
infrastructure and it has got to be paid for. The only question we
have to decide is, do we pay for that through general taxation; do
we pay for it through a combination of general taxation and direct
charging that tries to incentivise conservation and water
management; or do we go back to a previous charging system?
He added: There is a big cost if we decide not to have revenue
stream coming from water provision to domestic houses. There are
big consequences in terms of the flow of money in and out of
government.
Separately, Mr Coveney warned local authorities not to expect the
Government to pick up the tab if they reduce property taxes next
year. Some 16 councils cut rates last year and 11 had done so this
year, he said.
The warning on water was also made by Mr Donohoe, when he
told a separate committee about budget preparations. Water
treatment coming directly from general taxation would directly

compete with other needs including housing, he said.
Source: Irish Examiner, Sept 22, 2016
ITS NOT A U-TURN" - FIANNA

FIL WANTS WATER
CHARGES ABOLISHED
September 12, 2016
THEYRE SUSPENDED FOR NOW BUT

THE PARTY WANTS THEM GONE
ALTOGETHER.
Fianna Fail leader Michel Martin pictured in 2011.

image: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie
FIANNA FIL HAS said that it wants water charges abolished and
the provision of water funded by general taxation.
The charges are currently suspended as an expert commission set

up to determine the future of water charges begins its work.
Fianna Fil has made its submission to the commission in which
the party sets out its opinion that water charges should be
abolished.
Speaking to RTs Morning Ireland, Fianna Fil leader Michal
Martin denied that this represented a U-turn for his party.
The introduction of water charges was part of the bailout deal Brian
Cowens Fianna Fil government signed with the Troika in 2010.
Its not a U-turn, weve said from day 1 prior to the election and
our submission is very consistent with our general election
position, he said.
For the lifetime of this government, we want the abolition of water
charges as theyre currently in existence and we believe that a
combination of funding from from the general exchequer on the
current side. And in terms of the investment side from the
European Investment Bank and the Strategic Investment Fund.
Martin said that he wants general taxation to pay for Irish Water
into the future.
Despite wanting water charges gone, he says it is not his partys
position to abolish Irish Water but instead wants an external
examination of how the utility operates.
The European Commission been forthright in saying that Ireland
must introduce water charges and has restated this view on
several occasions.
Martin, however, believes that the commissions legal argument is
wrong.
We have legal opinion to the effect that the commission is wrong
in terms of its assertions and indeepd the previous Minister would
have said as much in 2010, he said.
Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin has denied

that a proposal from his party that water
charges be abolished is a U-turn.
This afternoon, the party's members received

the submission to the independent Expert
Commission on Water Charges.
It states that domestic water charges should
be ended and the revenue loss should be
compensated by an increase in the
exchequer subvention.
The submission states that the legal advice
to the party is that there are strong grounds
to contest if necessary in any legal action by
the European Commission for not imposing
charges.
It also states that overdue bills are a legal
charge and should be paid.
It says that the independent commission
should look at mechanisms to refund bill
payers such as a tax credit or give a clear
outline on how to pursue non payment based
on international best practice.
The submission states that investment in
water services should be financed through
the central exchequer, strategic, investment
fund and the European Investment Bank.
Speaking on RTs Morning Ireland, Mr Martin
said it was clear the existing situation was
untenable and a fresh start was needed.
He said he was not proposing the abolition of
Irish Water, at this stage, but there needed to
be an external examination of how it is
working to ensure stronger efficiencies.
Mr Martin said that Fianna Fil had legal
opinion to the effect that the European
Commission was wrong in its assertions that
Ireland must impose water charges.

He added that this legal opinion has been
made available to the commission in relation
to water charges and he believed the
Government should fight the European
Commission.
Former minister for the environment Alan
Kelly said the European Commission has
strong views on water charges and said that
Mr Martin "factually didn't know what he was
talking about".
Speaking on the same programme, the
Labour TD said he would ask Fianna Fil to
publish the legal advice it has concerning
water charges and he believed that the legal
advice would be flawed.
"The Attorney General advice to Minister [for
Housing Simon] Coveney, I would like him to
give us an impression of what that is because
it is very clear and that is the most important
that the Government can take.
"If Michel Martin believes he has advice that
is contrary to that, then he should publish it.
And I challenge him to publish it."
Mr Kelly said he understood it was a hugely
unpopular charge but that everyone should
pay a little for what they use.
He added that it was Fianna Fil and the
Green Party who ensured Ireland would have
water charges in the first place.
Asked about Mr Martin's comments, Mr
Coveney said they were not a surprise but it

will be the EC's job to come up with new
proposals on how water services are paid for.
Mr Coveney said it was important that Mr
Martin had indicated that Fianna Fil would
seriously consider the proposals which are
eventually made by the expert commission
on water services.
Mr Coveney said that different parties had
different perspectives on water charges,
but they all "must take the process seriously,
work with the recommendations made by the
commission, and try to find a compromise
that everyone can live with".
The Anti-Austerity Alliance- People Before
Profit group has also submitted its
submission to the commission, suggesting
the abolition of water charges and Irish
Water.
The group also says water services should be
transferred back to local authorities and be
managed by a "single national water and
sanitation board".
There should be an amnesty for outstanding
bills and a refund for those that have paid, it
added.
Sinn Fin leader Gerry Adams, meanwhile,
has welcomed what he described as the
"belated U-turn by Fianna Fil leader Michel
Martin on the scrapping of water charges and
the need for a Commission of
Investigation into NAMA's sell-off of its
Northern loan book".
Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan, however,

has criticised Mr Martin, saying: "Fianna Fils
U-turn on the issue of water charges is a
return to populist economics, which will cost
us all dearly in the end.
"In 2009 the Green Party and Fianna Fil
agreed to implement the recommendation of
the Commission on Taxation to introduce a
charge which would promote conservation of
scarce water supplies.
"That commitment was written into our
revised Programme for Government, without
any objection from any of the Fianna Fil
negotiators."
Water charges are unlikely to be reintroduced, the leader of

Fianna Fil has declared, ahead of a special commission
deciding on the future of water services and how they should
be funded.
Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin addresses the media prior to the annual
parliamentary party think-in at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. He confirmed
his party will not support a Dil motion by Sinn Fin next week to abolish
water charges. Picture: Conor McCabe
Michel Martin also confirmed that his party will not back a Sinn
Fin motion in the Dil next week to abolish water charges, even
though Fianna Fil ultimately wants to scrap bills for households.
He outlined how his party had effectively delivered the end to water
charges after bills were frozen under the confidence and supply
deal with the Fine Gael-minority government.
A government-appointed commission on water charges is due to
produce a report on the future of managing services in November,
after which an Oireachtas committee will examine the issue and
the Dil may act on it.
Mr Martin said charges, currently frozen, were ultimately unlikely to
be reintroduced.
He said no Dil motion could scrap water charges and that only a
Dil money bill could abolish bills.

He said the confidence and supply deal with Fine Gael had
essentially got rid of water charges.
The only way that water charges can be reintroduced is via
legislation by this Dil and that is unlikely given the configuration of
parties within the Dil, he said.
More than 90 TDs were elected to the Dil this year on promises to
reform or abolish charges.
Fianna Fil, which supported the Government on the basis that
bills were frozen, has told the commission charges should be
abolished. The party rejects claims it has done a U-turn, in the
event of a snap election being called.
Mr Martin said Fianna Fil would remain faithful to the
commission and there would not have been a government without
it being set up.
However, he agreed that, regardless of the outcome of the
commission, water charges were unlikely to be reintroduced.
Mr Martin was asked whether he thought the charges would be
abolished.
I do, but there are other wider issues besides just charges which
fall to be considered, he said.
He accused Sinn Fin, who are set to introduce a bill to scrap
charges in the Dil next week, of playacting in relation to their
motion.
Motions on their own cannot get rid of charges, only legislation
can, he said.
Sinn Fin says its motion presents Fianna Fil with an opportunity
to stop flip-flopping on the issue.
MEP Lynn Boylan said: The reality is we do not have to wait nine
months for a so-called expert commission to recommend the
scrapping of water charges.
The Dil can vote in favour of abolition as early as next week and,
in doing so, deliver what people actually voted for at the general
election in February.
They didnt vote for a suspension of water charges. People want

to see them scrapped.
SMART METERS FAIL DATA

PRIVACY TESTS
September 25, 2016
POST BODY
What you didn't know about your fitness tracker and your
right to privacy
by Adrian Weckler
Irish Independent
Sept 23, 2016
Irish Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon
Smart electricity meters and wearable fitness trackers are failing

Irish peoples privacy, according to a new report by the data
protection regulator.
Helen Dixons office will now step up audits of technology devices
after a survey of 300 internet of things devices found alarming
shortfalls in the management of personal data by developers and
suppliers.
The study also involved 25 other data protection authorities. It
showed that three quarters of device manufacturers failed to
explain how customers could delete their information. It also
showed that two thirds of manufacturers failed to explain how
information was stored, while three in five failed to explain how
personal information would be collected and processed. Just over
a third of manufacturers failed to include easily identifiable contact
details if customers had privacy concerns.
In the Irish area of study, nine devices were investigated ranging
from smart electricity meters to fitness trackers. The data regulator

declined to name the manufacturers involved.
However, the office is considering action against those who are
found to be in breach of legislation.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is planning to
scale up investigative and audit work in this area in 2017, said
John Rogers, the data watchdogs senior investigations officer who
coordinated the Irish sweep. We have already begun to schedule
audits of devices in the technology sector. The purpose of these
audits will be to gauge compliance with the Data Protection Acts
and to work with companies to ensure that their products are
meeting the required standards.
The sweep was coordinated by the Global Privacy Enforcement
Network, an informal network of global data protection agencies.
CABINET APPROVES WATER

SERVICES (AMMENDMENT)
BILL 2016, A PARADOX
June 19, 2016
Together's sees this Bill and Government action as a paradox.
JUNO MCENROE, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

WRITES IN THE IRISH EXAMINER, JUNE 15, 2016
Bill to suspend water charges passed by cabinet
Legislation to suspend water charges has been agreed by the
Cabinet. From June 30, homeowners will no longer be sent bills for
at least nine months.
Terms for a commission to examine the future of charges as well
as that of Irish Water are also set to be finalised next week.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney brought details of the legislation
to suspend charges before his Cabinet colleagues, which will be
published later this week.
The particulars of the Water Services Bill were essentially agreed
between Fine Gael and Fianna Fil during the government
formation talks and specifically the supply and confidence
agreement.
A Government spokesman yesterday said charges would be
suspended by June 30. But a spokesman for Mr Coveney said this
was not conclusive as the date would depend on when the
legislation passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Under the Fine Gael and Fianna Fil deal, charges will be
suspended for nine months while a commission examines them. Its
recommendations will then be referred to an Oireachtas
committee. The Dil will then vote on that committees final
recommendations.
Mr Coveney has already indicated that the period of suspension
could be longer than nine months. This would likely be the case if
the commission or committees work did not finish during that time.
JUNO MCENROE, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

WRITES IN THE IRISH EXAMINER, JUNE 15, 2016
Bill to suspend water charges passed by cabinet
Legislation to suspend water charges has been agreed by
the Cabinet. From June 30, homeowners will no longer be
sent bills for at least nine months.
Terms for a commission to examine the future of charges
as well as that of Irish Water are also set to be finalised
next week.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney brought details of the
legislation to suspend charges before his Cabinet
colleagues, which will be published later this week.
The particulars of the Water Services Bill were essentially
agreed between Fine Gael and Fianna Fil during the
government formation talks and specifically the supply

and confidence agreement.
A Government spokesman yesterday said charges would
be suspended by June 30. But a spokesman for Mr
Coveney said this was not conclusive as the date would
depend on when the legislation passed through the
Houses of the Oireachtas.
Under the Fine Gael and Fianna Fil deal, charges will be
suspended for nine months while a commission examines
them. Its recommendations will then be referred to an
Oireachtas committee. The Dil will then vote on that
committees final recommendations.
Mr Coveney has already indicated that the period of
suspension could be longer than nine months. This would
likely be the case if the commission or committees work
did not finish during that time.
he bill and its passage in the Dail can be read or downloaded here.
Below is an explanation in full which can also be found at the
aforementioned link.
General
The Water Services Act 2014 provided for a revised domestic
public water charging system, which commenced on 01 January
2015. Irish Water began charging in respect of dwellings receiving
its services from 01 January 2015, with quarterly bills issuing from
April 2015 for the previous quarter (e.g. customers received a bill
in Quarter 2 2015 in respect of Quarter 1 2015).
This Bill provides for the suspension of domestic water charges for
nine months, from 01 April 2016 to 31 December 2016, to provide
time for an extensive deliberative process to be undertaken on the
funding of domestic water services.
Firstly, the Government will establish an expert commission, which
will make recommendations on a sustainable long-term funding
model for the delivery of domestic water and wastewater services
by Irish Water.
Secondly, a special Oireachtas committee on the funding of
domestic water services will then consider these recommendations
and endeavour to make its own recommendations. Finally, the
Oireachtas will consider and vote on these recommendations.
Financial Implications
The suspension of domestic water charges from the beginning of
Quarter 2 2016 to the end of Quarter 4 2016 will result in customer
revenue losses for Irish Water requiring additional Exchequer
subvention in 2016.
Due to the suspension of the 2016 Water Conservation Grant, for
which 110 million was originally allocated, the net additional cost
of suspending water charges for nine months is unlikely to exceed
20 million in 2016.
Section 1
Definitions
This section sets out the definitions for terms used in the Bill.
Section 2
Suspension of domestic water charges
This section provides for the suspension of domestic water
charges (except for connection charges) for a period of nine
months, commencing on 01 April 2016. The section also provides
for a prohibition on Irish Water billing domestic customers for water
services between the commencement of the Act and 31 March
2017 (i.e. the billing period for 01 April 2016 to 31 December
2016), or at any future time, in respect of the nine month period of

suspension.
The section also provides that the Minister for the Environment,
Community and Local Government shall extend the nine month
period of suspension by way of Ministerial Order for a further
period if he or she is satisfied that an Oireachtas committee,
established to examine the issue of funding of domestic public
water services, will not conclude its work by 31 March 2017.
The Minister may also extend the suspension, by order, to enable
the Government to consider the recommendations of the
Oireachtas committee.
Under the section, Irish Water shall be prohibited from billing
domestic customers for water services during any period of
extension of the suspension of water charges (i.e. any period of
suspension beyond 31 December 2016), from the commencement
of the Act to 31 March 2017 (i.e. the billing period for 01 April 2016
to 31 December 2016), or at any future time.
The section also provides that Irish Water shall not include the
period of suspension of domestic water charges in calculating the
time period of unpaid water charges, for which a late payment
charge applies.
Section 3
Short title This is a standard provision to provide for the short title.
An Roinn Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais itiil, Meitheamh,
2016.
We have major reservations about this bill and any commission
that is set up. See our other articles for details, here and another
here. We see these events as a ploys used to defuse anger and
opposition to Irish Water and Water Charges and as a political
maneuver by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to suit their
respective right wing party interests.
April 30, 2016 Fianna Fil has agreed to support the administration over three
budgets and there is broad agreement on a range of fronts, including rent
supplement increases and water charges. RTE News
This Fianna Fail and Fine Gael deal and its implementation, in
regards to the Water Charges issue is something of a paradox.
Not only has the Irish people clearly made their opposition felt in
the General Election in February 2016 but also we now have a
minority government, Fine Gael, implementing the agreement and
the other party to the agreement, Fianna Fail, on the sidelines
letting them take the initiative. Apart from little whimpers from
Fianna Fail individual party members, Fine Gael's Simon Coveney
is in control of the 'Terms of Reference'.
This anomaly is more striking when you think that Fianna Fail
promised and was given a mandate to abolish both Irish Water and
the Water Charges. This was clearly a 'Core Principle' in their preelection manifesto.
Irish Water and Water Meters
The confusion is further compounded because Irish Water Ltd is
still in existence. This much hated and derided company is being
funded by the very people who want rid of them, the Irish people.
How many times have we heard from Fianna Fail TDs and even
some Government Independent Ministers criticiseIrish Water Ltd
and callfor this 'Quango' to be abolished.
Imagine Irish Water is still happily sucking the public financial well
dry, (see Irish Water appoints Jerry Grant to top job ). It is ironical
and sinister that the system of installing water meters is still in full
swing amid all this confusion. Is the Government presupposing the
outcome of what we see as a loaded 'Commission of Experts'
which is included in this bill?
Arrests, Imprisonments,
Suspending water charges and in the interim continuing with their
related services and installation begs many questions. But the
most sinister question is why is Fianna Fail acquiescing to the
Government's draconian policy of arresting demonstrators,
bringing them to court and even imprisoning them (see our article
Two elderly water charge protesters remanded in custody) . Why
are these measures continuing and why is the Government
spending fortunes pursuing this policy?
Anti Water protesters were arrested and handcuffed in Tyrellstown, Co Dublin

on June 15, 2016. They were released the same day without charge. Click
photo to view video.
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN
EXPERT COMMISSION ON
DOMESTIC PUBLIC WATER
SERVICES
June 11, 2016
Simon Coveney
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local

Government, Mr Simon Coveney T.D. is to establish an Expert
Commission shortly to make recommendations on a sustainable
long-term funding model for the delivery of domestic public water
and waste water services by Irish Water. The proposed terms of
reference for the Commission are shown below, and it is intended
that the Commission will endeavour to complete its work within five
months of its establishment. The recommendations of the
Commission will be considered by a special Oireachtas
Committee.
The Minister intends that the Commission will include both national
and international experts and invites interested parties to put

forward potential nominees. Given the complexity of the issues
involved, it is intended that the Commission will require
professional expertise in funding and financing of large scale
infrastructure investment and maintenance programmes; economic
regulation; utility approaches particularly in the water sector; water
resources management and water environmental law.
Names of nominees and their respective areas of expertise
should be submitted using the template attached to the
Department (ExpertCommission@environ.ie) by 5.30pm on
17th June 2016. Please note that any submissions made are
subject to FOI, and any confidential information supplied in
this context should be clearly highlighted.
Final selection shall be a matter for the Minister, taking account of
need for the Commission to have the best range of expertise to
deliver on the terms of reference within the timeframe proposed.
PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE
[
[
[
[
[
[
An Expert Commission will be set up to assess and make

recommendation upon the funding of domestic public water
services in Ireland and improvements in water quality, taking into
account:
The maintenance and investment needs of the public water and
waste water system on a short, medium and long-term basis;
Proposals on how the national utility in State ownership would be
able to borrow to invest in water infrastructure;
The need to encourage water conservation, including through
reviewing information campaigns on water conservation in other
countries;
Irelands domestic and international environmental standards and
obligations;
The role of the Regulator; and
Submissions from all interested parties.
The Commission will be empowered to commission relevant

research and hear evidence to assist this work. The Commission
shall endeavour to complete its work within five months of its
establishment.
Original article published on Friday, June 10, 2016; Dept of the
Environment
http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/establishmentexpert-commission-domestic-public-water-services
BUNCRANA TOGETHER
This idea of setting up a commission to investigate the so called
best model of water services in Ireland was first muted by Eoin O'
Broin, Sinn Fein on RTE's This Week on March 13, 2016. This
was an unilateral call by Sinn Fein, one which surprised quite a few
anti water charge groups in the country. What was more alarming
was that Mr O'Broin agreed to abide by any decision of any
commission even if it came out in favour of Irish Water and
charges.
This was not the first time Sinn Fein went out on a limb, making
unilateral decisions. Once again this put the water movement on
the back foot. It is still unknown whether the self proclaimed
leadership of Righ2Water, i.e Brendan Ogle & Co, knew anything
about the O'Broin statement beforehand. There was no
explanation, no condemnation of the proposal and no statement
from Mr Ogle.
Bear in mind that the 'Commission' proposed by Sinn Fein was at a
time of intense negotiations between parties and independent TDs
trying to form a new government after the inconclusive February
26th general election.
What was Sinn Fein's motive for suddenly and without a mandate
calling for a commission? Only they can answer that but for us it
was manipulation and it eventually handed an excuse to Fine Gael
to form a minority government with an agreement from Fianna Fail.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail got over the thorny, divisive issue by
agreeing to a commission on water services and abolishing water

charges for nine months at least.
Who knows maybe they might have come up with that idea anyway
but they knew that Sinn Fein could not say boo since they came up
with the idea in the first place. The water campaign is at the mercy
of political manipulation and party politics.
Now we have Fine Gael on their high horse pushing their own
agenda with Fianna Fail adding little input or criticism. Not only
does Fine Gael want 'experts' but the minister is going to pick them
as described in the following extract from their submission of
nominees.
"Final selection shall be a matter for the Minister, taking account of
need for the Commission to have the best range of expertise to
deliver on the terms of reference within the timeframe proposed."
SINN FEIN CHANGE OF

POSITION ON IRISH WATER FIANNA FAIL SAYS A MOST
EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT
March 13, 2016
RTE, 'THIS WEEK', INFORMED THE PUBLIC THAT

DESPITE SINN FEIN SIGNING UP TO THE
RIGHT2CHANGE POLICY OF ABOLISHING IRISH
WATER AND SETTING UP A NEW NATIONAL
WATER BOARD, EOIN OBROIN, SINN FEIN

SPOKESPERSON TOLD THE PROGRAMME THAT
HIS PARTY SEES NO OBVIOUS ALTERNATIVE TO
IRISH WATER AT PRESENT WHICH IS WHY THEY
WANT TO LAUNCH AN INDEPENDENT
COMMISSION TO FIND OUT THE BEST MODEL.
RTE 'This Week' Sunday, March 13, 2016 (click on photo to
listen to the radio show)
The section that is of interest to anti Irish Water campaigners
starts from 9 mins in and last about 20 mins. The discussion
centers around the future of approx 4000 employees, 650 of
whom are directly employed by Irish Water while the rest are
still employed by County Councils.
Click photo to listen to programme
Mr O'Broin went on to say " I haven't heard anybody outline a

detailed or credible alternative to Irish Water. I know there are
sketchy proposals made by other parties. That's why we think its
best to have a commission to design the best possible model.
When questioned if he would accept the commission's
recommendations, Mr O'Broin said " if the independent
commission comes back and says Irish Water is the best model
after all and should be retained, I would be surprised, but if you
set up an independent commission to look into it, then I think there
is a responsibility to accept it's findings".

Fianna Fail response
Sean Fleming, Fianna Fail spokesperson, when asked what he
thought of Sinn Fein's proposal, said that " it is the most
extraordinary statement I have heard in the last month from
anybody. Pearse Doherty had a motion in the Dail during the past
week to close down Irish Water. Now we have a newly elected
Sinn Fein TD saying they are not doing that and that they want an
independent commission. One is contradicting the other."
SIPTU
Adrian Kane of SIPTU representing the workers in Irish Water and
County Councils said they are going to resist the . Interestingly Mr
Kane stated that closing down Irish Water "would be a disaster for
the country".
However, there was no mention of Irish Water Ltd's own plans for
1200 redundancies.
Irish Water appoints Jerry Grant to top

job
BY MARY HALLISSEY
JUNE 16, 2016
Engineer will replace John Tierney as managing director

Ervia has confirmed the appointments of Jerry Grant as managing
director of Irish Water, and Cathal Marley as group finance
director of Ervia, the parent company of Irish Water and Gas
Networks Ireland.
Engineer Jerry Grant has been head of asset management with
Irish Water since April 2013.
http://www.businesspost.ie/irish-water-appoints-jerry-grant-totop-job/
Irish Water is downsizing it's staff base
Unions had threatened to strike over the companys plan

Irish Water has reached agreement with unions on a 10 per cent
cut in jobs by the end of the year. Unions had threatened to strike
over the companys plan to reduce the number of water service
workers employed by 31 councils.

But Irish Water agreed a two-year deal to see the number of
operational water service staff drop from 3,553 at the end of 2015
to 3,171 by January 1, 2017. This is 382 fewer jobs. All the job cuts
will be accounted for by council staff either retiring or being redeployed to other sections of the council.The agreement with water
sector unions such as Siptu and Impact was actually agreed last
February, but was not publicised by the government due to
sensitivity over job cuts.
http://www.businesspost.ie/irish-water-to-cut-382-jobs-by-nextyear/
TWO ELDERLY WATER

CHARGE PROTESTERS
REMANDED IN CUSTODY
May 13, 2016
TWO ELDERLY MEN have been remanded in custody following a

water charges protest in Kilcoole. Sean Doyle and Eamonn
McGrath took part in a protest in Kilcoole on Monday.
On Tuesday, there were tense scenes in Bray as the pair were
escorted from Bray courthouse, with protesters clashing with
garda on the main road.
The two men, both in their 70s, were in front of Judge David
Kennedy in Bray this morning on trespassing charges.
Doyle and McGrath, who were both on crutches in court, were
remanded in custody and are to appear before Cloverhill District
Court on 24 May.
On behalf of her clients, their solicitor requested the two mens
medications be supplied to them while in custody. The solicitor told
the court there had been an issue this week with Doyle accessing
his medication.
It was also requested that McGrath have access to painkillers for
his hip. Judge Kennedy said the two men should have access to
medications deemed necessary to them.
Large crowds gathered outside Bray courthouse this morning, and
access to the court room was restricted. There was a heavy garda
presence, with at least 18 members of the garda on the premises.
Family members were permitted to see the two men briefly before
their court appearance. Sinn Fin TD John Brady was present in
court today and he is due to visit the two men in the coming days.
It is disgraceful that Sean Doyle and Eamon McGrath have been
remanded in custody for protesting against water charges, said
Brady.
A cross-party group of TDs have expressed concern over the
imprisonment of the two men. Video footage of the protest in
Kilcoole and the scenes in Bray on Tuesday were widely circulated
on social media.
A statement signed by Clare Daly TD, Cieran Perry, Deputy Lord
Mayor, Mick Wallace TD, Eoin OBroin TD, David Cullinane TD,
Gino Kenny TD, Jonathan OBrien TD, Thomas Pringle TD, Joan
Collins TD, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, and Catherine Connolly TD,
condemns the imprisonment of Doyle and McGrath.
A delegation of politicians will attempt to visit the two men in the
coming days.
of incident where Sean Doyle and Eamonn McGrath were
arrested. As far as is known the person who is seen
backing a pickup into a protester, damaging a woman's
phone and pushing her violently to the ground and then
attacking Sean Doyle was not arrested or charged.
Violent Assault on Water Protester, Kilcoole 09-052, the Elderly Men were wrongfully Imprisoned by
The Attacker civilian that Garda ignored while he

try to run the peaceful protesters over with his
truck and garda watched and looked on then when
it was over the Garda charged the peaceful
Protesters the two Eldely men were sent to jail for
commiting no Crime while the Truck driver of
vechile who tried to run the Eldely men down
walked free nothing was done to Him even though
he was the criminal and Garda watched on and let
him go freee from his criminal hit and Run act
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laGUvZvZ6PA
Anti Water protesters were arrested and handcuffed in Tyrellstown,

Co Dublin on June 15, 2016. They were released the same day
without charge
TRIAL DATE SET FOR

MURPHY OVER FALSE
IMPRISONMENT CHARGE
October 3, 2016
Paul Murphy and 17 others are facing charges related to an incident in

Jobstown in November 2014
A trial date has been set for Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy
and 17 other people facing charges of false imprisonment of then
tnaiste Joan Burton following a water charges protest in Jobstown
two years ago.
Ms Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell had left a graduation
event at An Cosn Education Centre at Jobstown in Tallaght when
a demonstration was held, which delayed her for about two hours
on 15 November 2014.
She and her team had been attempting to travel by car to St
Thomas' Church for the rest of the ceremony when it is alleged
violence broke out.

Among the defendants are Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon, 38, of
Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Anti-Austerity Alliance Councillor Michael
Murphy, 50, of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden; and Paul
Murphy, 33, of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght.
Judge Melanie Greally set three separate trial dates at Dublin
Circuit Criminal Court today after she said she had grouped the
accused together based on what charges they are facing.
Paul Murphy, Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon are due to be
tried with four others, each of whom are charged with false
imprisonment, on 24 April 2017. A pre-trial date has been set for 7
December next.
The second trial of six people accused of false imprisonment is
due to take place on 2 October 2017 with a pre-trial date hearing
for 8 June 2017.
The final trial of five people accused of violent disorder has been
set for 9 April 2018 with a pre-trial date set for 13 December 2017.
Protesters outside the Childrens Court in Dublins Smithfield during the trial of
a 17-year-old for false imprisonment. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
The prosecution of a schoolboy accused of the false imprisonment

of then Tnaiste Joan Burton is a recipe for totalitarianism, his
barrister has argued.
On Tuesday, Judge John King adjourned the trial until October 21st
to decide if he is going to throw out the case. The 17-year-olds
legal team have contended that it is not in accordance with Irish or
European human rights laws and that the State has not made out a
case to answer.
The youth denies falsely imprisoning the former Labour Party
leader and her advisor Karen OConnell, who were allegedly
trapped in two garda cars for three hours during a demonstration at
the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15th,
2014. He was aged 15 at the time.
The Dublin west TD had been at a graduation ceremony at An
Cosan education centre when a water charges protest took place
outside. She told the court earlier that she was frightened and did
not think she had the alternative of being able to get out of Garda
cars surrounded by people shouting abuse and banging on
windows.
The State has closed its case and, on Tuesday, the boys legal
team asked Judge John King to dismiss the charges. It was day
four of the trial at the Dublin Childrens Court.
The boys barrister Giollaoisa Lideadha SC told Judge King the
case is unprecedented and is a recipe for totalitarianism. If the
charge of false imprisonment is not dismissed, that would amount
to a failure to vindicate the constitutional rights of the accused,
failure to uphold the right to fair trial, failure to uphold the obligation
on the authorities not to abuse their powers and not to act
arbitrarily or in a manner inconsistent with basic fairness.
Counsel has also submitted that the prosecution has failed to
prove their case beyond the necessary proof of reasonable doubt
and they had used a too literal interpretation of the law on false
imprisonment in a case where a person was detained for seconds
in one instance and minutes in another.
He said his client makes no apology for the demonstration, but
certainly did not want any personal trauma to be caused. Applying
for a dismissal, he argued that the prosecution has not proved that
a criminal case has been caused.

He said the teenager was never told he was committing an
offence or committing a public order offence or an offence of an
entirely different magnitude, false imprisonment. My submission is
that the decision to charge in relation to this matter in the first place
was not in accordance with constitutional rights and the European
convention on human rights.
He said the case touches on the right to protest, freedom of
expression and freedom of assembly. He said the teen had nothing
to do with any of the unpleasant things that happened such as
screaming and throwing objects while the slow march was taking
place.
The prosecution case is that the former Tnaiste and her advisor
were detained by the actions of the teenage defendant, in
conjunction with the actions of others.
Replying to the points raised by the defence, prosecuting counsel
Tony McGillicuddy BL said the video evidence showed the
teenager had a megaphone and was encouraging people to sit
down around the cars. He said there was evidence that the first
garda car was blocked. At a Garda 4x4, the boy used the
megaphone to encourage others to sit down and he sat down also,
he said.
He argued that to call it an innocuous peaceful protest is wrong
when you see the evidence from Joan Burton, her advisor, gardai
and the footage shown in court.
Judge John King said the case will resume next month. He said he
wanted to read the case law furnished by the defence and to
review the evidence and the submissions in detail. He told the
prosecution and defence teams that he will give a decision when
the case resumes on October 21st.
A court case began this week in the Children's Court, Dublin
against a juvenile, the first member of 18 protesters charged
with falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser during
an anti water charge protest in November 2014. The accused

was 15 at the time of the water protest at Fortunestown Road
in Jobstown in Tallaght, Dublin. The last day of this first case
is set for 27th September when, as the jargon goes, 'a verdict
will be handed down'.
Many might not read much into this little case in the juvenile court
but many would see itas the State flexing it's muscle, using the full
force of the legal system to come down hard on a working class
community and the general principle of the right to protest. In this
first case it is picking on a juvenile breaking up the case into
separate cases. Possibly it believes that this is potentially a weak
link in the Jobstown Not Guilty Campaign.
The case against the 18 Jobstown protesters accused of falsely
imprisoning Joan Burton is no minor matter. If convicted the
accused could receive lengthy prison sentences. No matter what
this case will have historic relevance and could have serious
intended consequences for anyone protesting.
Joan Burton gives evidence in case against teen accused of false

imprisonment. RTE News
The State's historic repressive apparatus

How would one look at the State's assault against the working
class in 1913 when 'William Murder Murphy', a journalist, a
member of parliament and prominent bussinessman initiated the
Dublin Lockout of 1913?
Central to that dispute was the 'right to unionise'. Central to the
jobstown case is the 'right to protest'. But common to both is the
assault on our freedom.
We wonder how former minister Joan Burton would react to a
similar nickname?
Follow the case
A good place to read about the case is the excellent coverage in
thejournal.ie. Hopefully The Journal will continue and keep us
informed of all future Jobstown cases. Of course you will get full
coverage in Jobstown Not Guilty facebook page
TDS QUERY IRISH WATERS

ACCESS TO DPP AHEAD OF
LEGAL ACTIONS
September 25, 2016
Anti-meter protesters confront Irish Water contractors in RahenyColin

Keegan
by Justine McCarthy
Irish Water has held discussions with the Office of the Director of
Public Prosecutions (DPP) about how the utilitys relationship with
water meter installers can be best presented in criminal
prosecutions.
TDs who oppose water charges claim the discussions indicate an
unusual level of access to the DPP and say that they intend to
raise the matter in the Dail.
The discussions came to light in a letter obtained during court
proceedings relating to an anti-metering protest in Dun Laoghaire
in May 2015.
The letter, dated July 20, 2015, was written by Kevin McSherry,
Irish Waters metering development manager, and was addressed

to Superintendent Kevin Dolan in Dun Laoghaire garda station. It
described the discussions with the DPPs office as being at a high
level.
McSherry said it had been agreed that a corporate witness
statement would be provided for each prosecution from a senior
Irish Water manager, which will highlight, inter alia, the
relationship between Irish Water and its contractors and the fact
that Irish Water is entitled, pursuant to its corporate memorandum
and articles, to act through contractors.
Joan Collins, an Independents 4 Change TD who was acquitted
last February of charges arising from an anti-water protest, said: I
would think its highly irregular that a company would have direct
contact with the DPP, and Ill be asking questions in the Dail.
The DPP is supposed to be independent. She cannot even give
reasons for her prosecution decisions. To have a company have
private discussions with her or her officials is sinister.
A spokeswoman for Irish Water said there was nothing out of the
ordinary about the meeting. [It] was simply for the purposes of
clarifying a legal procedural query we had, she said. An Garda
Siochana had requested clarification on how Irish Water would
demonstrate our legal relationship with our metering contractor, as
this evidence would be required for any prosecution against a third
party for interference or obstruction of the contractor.
We met with the DPP to clarify the appropriate way to provide
evidence of this legal relationship and this was deemed to be
through a witness statement.
Irish Waters head of capital delivery subsequently provided a
witness statement for prosecutions being taken by the DPP.
Paul Murphy, an Anti-Austerity Alliance TD, described the letter as
fairly significant.
Irish Water is not the gardai. It is a semi-state company. The letter
raises question marks over the DPP and what was happening in
those discussions. There is at least a problem of perception, he
said.
Murphy is due to go on trial next year on charges relating to a
protest in Jobstown during which Joan Burton, the then tanaiste,
was trapped in her car.
The DPPs office did not reply to questions.
Seamus Deane gave the first of the annual lecture series in his
honour last year.
His work is not, as he himself has stated, devoted to a rewriting of
the Irish past but to a writing of the Irish present.
Founder and editor since 1995 of the Field Day Review, as he had
earlier been of the Field Day pamphlets in 1983-88, he has made

his poetry, fiction, scholarship and criticism, particularly in latter
years in the form of the essay, a meditation on the need, in a
debased political system, to follow the dictum: When in Rome, do
as the Greeks do.'
Bernadette Devlin McAliskey is from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. While
still a student at Queen's University, she and her colleagues in the
newly-formed People's Democracy transformed political resistance
in the Northern Irish statelet by spearheading a socialist, antisectarian, mass movement for change. Her celebrity began when
she was elected to Westminster for Mid Ulster in 1969 - then the
youngest woman MP ever - and when she became a leading
organizer on the barricades in Derry during the Battle of the
Bogside.
In an electrifying maiden speech she declared herself, as the
second Irish woman elected to Westminster, to be in the same
tradition of feminist republicanism as the first, Constance
Markievicz. Later, she was active in the Smash H-Blocks
campaign, was seriously wounded in 1981 in an assassination
attempt by Loyalists and British paratroopers, yet continued her
sustained left-wing critique of many key developments in Ireland
since, including the Peace Process.
Bernadette' as she is still known, currently works supporting
migrants' rights in South Tyrone and remains Ireland's finest
political orator, the unforgettable voice of the Troubles.
Catherine Connolly Statements on the

EU UK Referendum Results 27 06 16
Full text
"On Brexit: This is a crisis point for democracy. The
consequence of the failure by the ruling elite and
compliant governments, including our own, to
realise that the democratic deficit that is integral to
the EU...is what led to Brexit.." Catherine Connolly
This is a video of a statement made by Catherine

Connolly, Independent TD for Galway West, in Dil
ireann as part of the EU/UK Referendum debate on
June 27, 2016. In our opinion this speech is one of
the finest speeches you will ever get in Dil
ireann.
We can judge and we can condemn the people that did not
vote the way that the English Government, Irish
Government or the EU wanted them to vote. We can
remain in denial and we can continue to believe that the
EU can continue as is without the UK and that our role is to
be good European citizens and comply with the rules to
hold back the tide or we can grow up and own up to the
fact that this Government not only failed to see Brexit
winning but took an active part in the project of fear that
sought to scare the British electorate into remaining. Of
equal significance, we could realise that this Government
utterly failed to realise the importance of the electorate
and the vote, except in so far as it was willing to look at a
"Yes" vote and talk about the people, I am sure, having
spoken but a vote to leave was, would be and is
interpreted as a vote based on greed, narrow self interest,
nationalism of the worst kind and dangerous antiimmigration views. In fact so busy were members of this
Government canvassing for a "Yes" vote that little thought
was put into the preparation of a contingency plan,
although I welcome that this is now in place.
Since the vote, we have heard many commentators,
journalists and ex-journalists describe the vote in
Doomsday terms. According to Cliff Taylor, the
overwhelming opinion of analysis is that the balance for
the Irish economy will be negative, the only question
being by how much. According to Fintan O'Toole, English
nationalists, recklessly and casually, with barely a thought,
have planted a bomb under the agreement that brought
peace to Northern Ireland and so on. According to Pat
Leahy, the nightmare has actually happened. Former
President of the EU Parliament, Pat Cox, has talked of
mines going off. This is the language of the "remain"
campaign. They spoke of hidden mines and people
walking on them, causing them to explode and that people
would not be expecting them.
Deputy Michel Martin described said, "Brexit would be

bad for Britain, bad for Ireland, bad for Europe and, as the
IMF pointed out last week, bad for the world." John Bruton
utterly failed to recognise the significance of the
referendum and of the crisis that a Brexit would create for
the EU. Many of these same people and others repeatedly
pointed out in the media that the Brexit side had no plan
of action, which was a fair comment and a fair question.
However nobody put the question as to what was the
contingency plan of those who favoured remaining,
including our own Government. Therefore, before and
after the vote we continue to see one right way to vote
and one right way to behave. It does not occur to the
commentators, to the Irish Government, to the UK
Government and, most important, to the EU itself that
despite the projection of fear and total manipulation of
same to force a desired result, the electorate was not
fooled. The only foolish people are those of us who are still
unable to digest and learn from the fact that more than 17
million people voted for a Brexit.
The EU project, led by an elite that is unaccountable to
the people, is utterly deaf to what people in different
countries, including Ireland, have been saying about the
EU: its growing size and power, its overall control and the
volume of legislation emanating from the EU,
notwithstanding the constant bombardment from the
establishment to remain. This should alert us and red bells
should ring that something is seriously amiss with the EU
itself.
As significant is the Lisbon treaty being amiss. I have it
here and I have read it. Article 50 specifically provides that
any member state may withdraw from the EU. Article 50
does not preclude a country from applying to rejoin the EU
but "its request shall be subject to the procedure referred
to in Article 49". Clearly, the Lisbon treaty provides for an
orderly and a managed exit of any country from the EU.
Given the doomsday scenario both prior to and
subsequent to the Brexit referendum, the question must
be asked why Article 50 was put into the treaty at all if it
was not contemplated that a country might exit. It also
begs the question as to whether other articles in the
Lisbon treaty similarly are there only as token gestures to
be implemented or not depending on the needs of the

markets. Consider the article on democracy and
participation. Article 10.3 of the Lisbon treaty - a
wonderful article - states "Every citizen shall have the
right to participate in the democratic life of the Union.
Decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as
possible to the citizen." However, the words and content
of this article are different from the reality. One need only
look at how local government resources have been
depleted and how almost all the powers of local
government have been taken away under the guise of
better local government.
If one looks at the Lisbon and Nice referenda, which were
re-run to obtain the outcome desired by the Irish
Government, and if one looks at the current negotiations
for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership,
TTIP, which are happening under complete secrecy,
perhaps therein lies the key to what led to Brexit - the
utter disconnect which was felt, on this occasion by the UK
electorate. We should realise that Brexit is not the
problem. Brexit is the consequence of a problem, which is
the failure of the ruling elite and compliant governments,
our own included, to realise that the democratic deficit is
an integral part of the EU. This has been pointed out by
one or two sensible people and one article about the
Brexit referendum by Dr. Christopher Bickerton drew my
particular attention. He said:
A key theme has been the deep disenchantment voters
feel about politics and the contempt they have for
politicians, and there is nothing uniquely British about
this ... The British-EU referendum is the tip of a much
larger iceberg, a European Union of disenchantment.
I agree with that commentator that the Brexit outcome
could be the basis for a new internationalism in Europe,
one that gives Europe the political meaning far more
profound than the shallow cosmopolitanism that comes
with the economic integration of the Single Market.
Some of the leaders on the Brexit side carefully and
systematically misused the issue of immigration to
support their cause. I utterly deplore such actions.
However, to seek to explain Brexit on that basis, or to
explain it on the basis that the 17 plus million people who
voted to leave did not quite understand what they were

voting for is not only contemptuous of the electorate, it is
also a seriously dangerous interpretation which ignores
the real reasons for the Brexit vote. More important, such
shallow analysis and explanations are not conducive to a
proper debate on the significance of Brexit.
The EU project, which is increasingly led by an elite that
is unaccountable to the people, is utterly deaf to what
people in different countries, including Ireland, have been
saying about the EU: its growing size and power, its
overall control and the volume of legislation emanating
from it. Euralex has indicated that there are some 134,000
EU rules, international agreements and legal acts binding
or affecting citizens across the EU alone. With regard to
the language of its unelected leaders, and it has been
mentioned already about bombs going off in Dublin, our
treatment of Greece was deplorable and our connivance in
the treatment of Greece was simply appalling. The
replacement of legitimate leaders in Italy and Greece,
replaced by the EU's men, really should be ringing alarm
bells in our heads. In Ireland we have been subjected to
this kind of capricious power on many occasions.
Remember Nice, faoi dh, Lisbon, faoi dh, the fiscal
treaty and the bullying behaviour of the EU institutions
and their unelected leaders during the financial crisis?
That crisis was as much created by those same
institutions, either by their direct actions or policies, or
their failure to act, or both, and yet the result for Ireland
was the imposition of austerity measures that hit the most
vulnerable the hardest and burdened us with debts we
had not incurred while the banks were enabled, with our
money, to strengthen themselves again so as to trade
without debt on the free market.
If the financial crisis laid bare the EU project for what it
was and has become, and how little the nicely worded
articles to do with equality and solidarity really matter,
then Brexit has removed the remaining fig leaf. Witness
the meeting of the leaders of the original six EU states,
meeting in secret and issuing instructions. I listened to the
European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker some president - say that it would will not be an amicable
divorce. I listened to the European Council President say,
while moving to reassure the EU that nothing will change,

that if Britain is going, it should get out. This is topped by
the German MEP who heads the European Parliament's
largest political group saying that leave means leave, so
get out. Better still, consider the barely contained anger in
the faces of Europe's elite leaders as the vote was
published of the people who dared to vote differently.
There is little enough cause for hope with any of the
above comments and there is little sign that they have
listened or learnt. It is clear that dissent will not be
tolerated. A message is going out to other countries: "Dare
not leave." In Ireland there was the repeated failure of
governments to learn from the electorate, for example, in
the Nice and Lisbon treaties referendums. I should
rephrase it and say it was the Government's ability to
learn from those referendums and to circumvent the
express will of the people which should be of concern to all
democrats. To change the result from the first Nice treaty
referendum, legislation was pushed through in one day
which prevented the Referendum Commission from giving
out information on both sides. That is how terrified they
were of the truth. There will be the most serious
consequences for us as a country if we continue along the
path of groupthink and if we continue not to question the
dogma. We have been here before. We have seen the
dogmatism of the Catholic Church at its most powerful in
this country when bishops reigned supreme and no
questions were allowed. Have we thrown off one form of
subjugation only to take up another, the market as
determined by those who have the power as the supreme
power to whom we must serve?
Brexit should, if we have any sense, lead us to have the
courage to question what the EU is and where it is taking
us. We should not allow the extreme right to narrate the
story for the interpretation of Brexit, nor should the right
be allowed to describe or produce the type of Europe and
society we want. Perhaps we could begin to listen to
people who are outside of the groupthink, somebody like
Wolfgang Munchau, who is totally for the European project
and yet has the courage to say:
The case for Remain in the UK boiled down to an
intellectually dishonest claim that Britain would be worse
off economically otherwise. It was backed by the nearconsensual agreement of macro-economists who, despite
the many insights they have to offer, were guilty of
overreach ... The fear-based Remain campaign was the
pinnacle of the professions intellectual arrogance.
The Taoiseach has confirmed that his main aim will be to
protect the Irish position, which is likely to mean him
aligning himself with the new Prime Minister on certain
issues. That is to be praised and welcomed. Indeed, the
Taoiseach's voice was one of moderation, but that can only
be judged against the rabid voices of the EU. However, he
has another role, which is to question, on our behalf, the
undemocratic nature of the EU and to initiate a debate on
whether a social Europe, which we all desire, is at all
possible given the fact that treaty after treaty, particularly
the Lisbon treaty, has copperfastened the neoliberal
agenda and committed us to the further militarisation of
Europe.
I am delighted that, finally, the Government has published
a statement. Hopefully, a task force will be established.
The Taoiseach mentioned IDA Ireland and other
organisations. I ask him to consider dars na Gaeltachta,
which has a number of client companies with exports
going to Britain. Finally, we must listen and learn. This is a
crisis not for England, as it will survive this, but for
democracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z4ysNRcdaY
PAUL MURPHY TD DIL

IREANN SPEECH, JUNE 21.
65.3 MILLION FORCIBLY
DISPLACED PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE
June 24, 2016
Paul Murphy TD speaking in the Dil on June 21 on forced

migration driven by war and climate change. According to
the UN there are 65.3 million people worldwide forcibly
displaced by war, climate change and human rights. What
is the response of the EU?
un 24, 2016
Paul Murphy TD speaking in the Dail on June 21 on forced
migration driven by war and climate change. What is the
response of the EU?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t4ytExAWpw
MEP'S RESPONSE TO EU
COMMISSION AND IRISH
GOVERNMENT OVER 9.4 WFD
'IRISH EXEMPTION'
June 13, 2016
Sir, The European Commission has never made any official

statements asserting that Ireland abolishing direct water charges
would be in breach of the water framework directive.
The water framework directive, which was adopted in 2000, states
that all EU member states may derogate from the water pricing
obligations contained within the directive.
In a recent response to a written question submitted by Lynn

Boylan, the European Commission confirmed that this derogation
still exists. Yes, the response also stated that if established
practice was a direct water charge then the flexibility to use the
derogation would not apply, but here we come to the crux of the
matter established practice.
The European Commission is already on record as stating that it
considers established practices to be those practices which were
an established practice at the time of adoption of the directive.
This directive was adopted on October 23rd, 2000, and transposed
into Irish law in 2003, when it is beyond doubt that Ireland used
general taxation as its established practice.
Additionally, since direct water charges were introduced in Ireland
only in the last year and far more significantly since those
charges have been rejected by the people, charging directly for
water is not the established practice in Ireland.
Furthermore, in a 2014 landmark case on EU water recovery rules,
the European Court of Justice found in favour of Germany, after
the European Commission tried unsuccessfully to take that state to
court for, in its opinion, failing to fulfil its water framework directive
obligations. The judgment conclusively stated that it cannot be
inferred that the absence of pricing for water service activities will
necessarily jeopardise the attainment of the water framework
directive.
As recently as January 2016, more than one year after the
establishment of Irish Water, in a response to a written question
which asked if Ireland would be in breach of the water framework
directive if water charges were dropped, the European
Commission simply stated that the second river basin
management plans would be assessed against the requirements of
the directive. Anything else is simply conjecture.
The European Commission has also confirmed in emails to Lynn
Boylan and Marian Harkin that if Ireland would like to avail of
Article 9.4 (the derogation) then it should submit that request in its
second river basin management plan with justification. This second

river basin management plan is now not due to be submitted until
2017, with plenty of time for Ireland to establish that derogation.
It is beyond doubt then that if the Irish Government so wishes, it
can still use the derogation and justify its use in its river basin
management plans, as has been done and is still being done by so
many other European regions and countries.
In light of all the above, it is clear that certain commentators and
politicians have distorted the debate by misconstruing or
embellishing what the European Commission has put on record
regarding the derogation from water pricing in the water framework
directive. Worse, it is also clear that many of those same politicians
are deliberately twisting this clear, unequivocal situation and using
it as an excuse not to avail of the derogation, which gives the Irish
Government the final say in deciding on water charges. Yours,
etc,
LYNN BOYLAN MEP,
MARTINA
ANDERSON MEP,
MATT CARTHY MEP,
LIADH N RIADA MEP,
LUKE MING
FLANAGAN MEP,
NESSA CHILDERS MEP,
MARIAN HARKIN MEP.
Original article; Irish Times, June 12,2016
RIGHT2WATER LEADERSHIP
PUTSCH MAKES
UNDEMOCRATIC DECISION TO
ACCEPT FINE GAEL
COMMISSION ON WATER
SERVICES.
June 11, 2016
POST BODY
(See the letter below, dated June 9th, 2016, to Simon Coveney,
Minister. It is signed Brendan Ogle on behalf of Right2Water)
Putsch is maybe the wrong word since this takeover of

Right2Water by some unions, parties and what could be described
as the 'Dublin clique' has already taken place. This coup was
neither sudden, democratic or from the grass roots. Instead it is a
top down manipulation of the movement by undemocratic and
underhand methods. It can be described as controlled opposition.
The leadership of R2W does not involve a cross section of the anti
water charge movement throughout Ireland and seems to rely on
nobody saying anything. It seems to take a leaf out of the
establishment's modus operandi of 'weather the storm and any
opposition or bad publicity will blow over'.
However, this latest announcement by Brendan Ogle is a step too
far. It is the latest public statement in a litany of unilateral and

undemocratic statements. It has left many flabbergasted.
Incidentally this letter is dated June 9th, one day before the Dept
of Environment's Terms of Reference for Fine Gael's Expert
commission on Domestic Public Water Services.
How can one say 'This is good news and to be welcomed? How
can we grovel to a Fine Gael minister or take part in any
establishment set up, one that is designed to sideline what was an
overwhelming Irish majority decision to abolish Irish Water and
Water Charges as shown in the General Election?
We call on the movement to tell the Right2Water assumed
leadership to step down and another committee elected
nationwide, one that would be elected democratically and
encompass all opposition groups and parties.
This proposed commission, politically designed by the
establishment, must be opposed and shown up for what it is, a
hoodwink. It is imperitive we organise our campaign against this
and it is done through an open, democratic and united anti water
charge organised opposition.
Right2Water are immensely proud that Ireland is the only country in

the entire OECD with zero water poverty as a result of this long
established payment method"
Does having Cryptosporidium in your water, or having to boil your
water before using it, not count as water poverty? What about
having raw sewage polluting your rivers and seas? Is that something
to be immensely proud of? If Ireland is the only country in the OECD
still using this method, has it ever occurred to you to wonder why?
Have you ever wondered why they dont have the same problems in
other countries?
The commission , just like the government we didn't elect , is going
ahead regardless , would it not make sense to have people on it that
we can trust ?
I've no doubt your right about the " money grabbing leeches " and I
have no doubt in believing that this is a commission that will lean
toward the Irish water model , with little or no discussion about any
other " international best practice model " . When that conversation
is the only one been had , would it not make seance to have people
we trust in there to let us know
Following several complaints from supporters of the Green

Party, let us clarify something.
If you support water charges as they stand (without a
referendum), then you are supporting privatisation of our
water supply.
If you support water charges without protections against
water poverty in place, then you support the targeting of
the poorest in our society.
If you've argued for the continuation of water charges over
the past number of months, then you have supported both
privatisation and water poverty, albeit in some cases
indirectly.
Now if any Political Party has changed their position and
are now saying they oppose water charges without a
referendum, please feel free to contact Right2Water and
let us know. If not, please accept that you are on the
wrong side of history and let's move on.
OK ... but also to be clear, the Green Party are calling for (a) a
referendum on ownership and (b) protections against water poverty.
And we're not new to this. We've been campaigning on this for
longer than you guys.
And, can you clarify, does the post above mean that R2W would
support water charges (or at least be less opposed to them) if (a)
safeguarded by a referendum on ownership and (b) there were
protections against water poverty?

I'm asking as much because this is a common ground between our
two positions that I've seen for a very long time.
Really, who cares what the Green Party thinks. Weren't they in
government (and supported governments) who destroyed Ireland,
making it impossible for ordinary people to buy a house without
putting an anvil of debt around their necks. It strikes me that bicycle
riding, hemp sandal wearing lunatics are not best place to tell us
how it is in our best interests to blight our landscape with ineffectual
windmills (the Germans are dismantling their crap and sending it
here)... do they see these useless eyesores as a new version of
trees?
Greens call for referendum
to block Irish Water

privatisation
Future governments could overturn legislation banning
sale of company Eamon Ryan
Mon, Oct 27, 2014, 17:23
Olivia Kelly
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan (centre pictured with deputy leader
Catherine Martin and party chairman Roderic OGorman at the launch of their
campaign for a referndum on the public ownership of water. Photograph:
Aidan Crawley
A constitutional referendum to block the privatisation

of Irish Water should be held next year, the Green
Party has said.
The party wants to amend Article 10 of the
Constitution which deals with ownership of natural
resources to state that ... the State shall not provide
for the privatisation or commercialisation of water
services for the people.
Party leader Eamon Ryan said legislation banning the
sale of Irish Water would be insufficient because it
could be overturned by future governments.
At the moment the continued public ownership of this
precious resource hangs on the support of the
government of the day. We believe that our water

supply should never be up for sale. We can ensure that
that will never happen by inserting a new Article into
our constitution which would guarantee the public
ownership of our water supply into the future.
While the Government has said it has no plans to
privatise Irish Water, the way the utility had been set
up made it attractive for commercial buyers, he said.
Private equity markets are particularly interested in
this type of regulated asset company where there is a
guaranteed income stream. The whole bonus and
financing arrangements that have been put in place
around Irish Water have been designed as if it is
already a private commercial company.
This referendum would be a step towards winning
back the trust of the Irish people in the way our water
supply is being managed, Mr Ryan said.
When asked why his party didnt resolve this issue
when in Government Mr Ryan said the Green Party
had always made it clear that privatisation of water was
off the table and would have held a referendum on
that issue before introducing water charges .
He called for cross party support, and the support of all
city and county councils, for the holding of a
constitutional referendum.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/greens
-call-for-referendum-to-block-irish-waterprivatisation-1.1978547
To argue in favour of water charges while there hasn't

been a referendum is not only to argue in favour of
domestic charges, it's to be pro-privatisation, because
that's the inevitable outcome.
We know what they want, we know ff/fg/lbr will not support motion
to abolish iw. We know they want to privatise our water, and in all
likelihood the deal has long been done, behind our backs of course.
We know if the money squandered into keeping the quango iw afloat
could have provided quality water supply if actually used wisely
instead of for forcing metres on us. Now they want another 660mil
to fill the holes in this sinking toxic company!
We refuse to pay, boycott iw charges, and the snakes up in leinster
house take our public funds and funnel them back into this hated
money pit. While people go homeless, hungry and every other
knockon result of austerity continues. This is an absolute insult to
each ans everyone of us.
What I want to know is what are we going to do about it? Are we
going to let this happen? Are we going to allow these clowns to
drain more public monies into that cesspit iw? Enough of this lunacy,
its time for full on action, nonstop til mission complete, do you think
the enemy iw has stopped planning its dirty sneaky tactics to force
its will upon us? No of course not, so why do we? Time to up the
anti. This is going on way too long now, and all the while this
parasitic quango is sucking us dry!
We do not live in a democracy because democracy is government
by the people for the people. If we had a functioning democracy
water charges would be long gone. Instead we have an oligarchy.
Our country is run by a small and privileged elite for corrupt and
selfish purposes. In particular, Fine Gael hold the majority of the
population in contempt. That is illustrated by the way they use the
word 'populism' as a derogatory term. Populism means a belief in
the power of regular ordinary people and in their right to have
control over their government, rather than a small group of political
insiders or a wealthy elite. If your so called democratically elected
government sees that as something to be ignored or derided then
they are oligarchs not democrats.
Public" Water Service's. Can I ask WHY do you want to change the
CONSTITUTION and ADD the line "In the Public Interest" ....
WHY do want to GIVE CONTROL of OUR water to the Government TO
SELL when they need POCKET MONEY. .
RIGHT2WATER WRITE TO MINISTER (ORIGINAL

LETTER HERE)
Dear Mr. Coveney,
I write on behalf of the Right2Water campaign in relation to your
recent announcement regarding the establishing of an
'Independent Commission' on domestic water charges.
The campaign notes that the current Government is calling for a
mature and realistic public debate on the issue and that the
'Independent Commission' should be a key tenet of such a debate.
This is good news and to be welcomed.
Since the enactment of domestic water charges, and indeed
beforehand, this debate has been sadly absent notwithstanding the
efforts of the Right2Water campaign and others to engage in it.
Instead an ideologically driven policy of attempted privatisation of
our water and sanitation service has been embarked upon and
important issues such as 'polluter pays', conservation and the
Water Framework Directive have been usurped to pursue this
agenda to the short, mid and long term detriment of our citizens.
Moreover, an expensive quango has been established and has
wasted over EUR1bn of scarce resources setting up a
methodology through which householders who use 10% of our
water and sanitation services are expected to pay 78% of the cost
for these services, in addition to what is already paid through
progressive general taxation.
Right2Water are immensely proud that Ireland is the only country
in the entire OECD with zero water poverty as a result of this long
established payment method and we believe the Government
should be similarly proud. Right2Water have been campaigning for
a single water and sanitation board funded through progressive
general taxation. Furthermore Right2Water are seeking a citizens
referendum on the insertion of a new Article 28 Section 4:2.1 in our
Constitution to read:
'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.'
Clearly this issue is one that has dominated the political discourse
for a considerable time, however, the debate has generated more
heat than light and has not been conducted in an honest and
balanced manner.
Irish Water and the previous Government are particularly culpable
in this regard.
The Right2Water campaign have studied and researched this
issue extensively and have met with representatives of the
European Commission and water movements in Germany, France,
Spain, Italy, Bolivia, Canada and the United States.
We have hosted, and attended, International Conferences and
gatherings on the issue.
If this 'Independent Commission' is genuinely intended to facilitate
this debate then I believe it is essential that Right2Water, as the
umbrella campaign for the largest protest movement in the state's
history, are invited to sit on the Commission and I am formally

requesting that you agree to this measure.
Yours Sincerely,
Brendan Ogle
Co-Ordinator
Right2Water
Brussels rebukes
Ireland over water
charges
Niamh Lyons | John Walsh
September 20 2016, 12:01am,
The Times
Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have argued over who should take credit for
the water charges being suspended
CAROLINE QUINN/PA
The European Commission has warned the

government that abolishing water charges and
cutting the universal social charge will jeopardise its
plans to increase spending.
It also suggested that the state should substantially
increase property tax to strengthen its revenues.
In its latest post-bailout review of the Irish economy
the commission said that cutting income tax and
and eliminating water charges would represent an
erosion of reforms introduced since the economic
crash.
Increasing revenue from environmental [water] and
property taxation . . . could help to both broaden the
tax base and enhance the growth and
environmental friendliness of the tax system, the

commission
Thousands of people have taken part in a
protest in Dublin over water charges, while
other rallies have been taking place in towns
and cities around Ireland.
The Dublin rally was organised by local antiwater charge groups.
Traffic restrictions have been lifted in Dublin
city centre following today's protest and
traffic is now moving freely.
Earlier, several hundred protesters split off
from the main group and marched to Leinster
House, where attempts were made by a
handful of people to pull open the large iron
gates.
A firecracker was thrown at garda on duty

inside and one protestor mounted the gate to
hang a small banner at the top.
Others present objected and began to chant
'peaceful protest' and left the area.
In separate incidents, two men were later

arrested on public order offences in the
Kildare St area.
An estimated 3,500 people turned out for a
demonstration against water charges in Cork
city.
The protest was organised by Cork Says No,

a coalition of a dozen anti-water charge
groups in the city and county.
The organisers called on people to boycott
water charge bills and to resist the
installation of water metres.
West Cork Right2Water group organised a
protest at Clonakilty. Speakers from a number
of parties, along with independents,
addressed the gathering at Emmet Square.
View image on Twitter
Follow
Damien Tiernan
Waterford Anti Water charges protest
2:57 PM - 31 Jan 2015
5 5 Retweets4 4 likes
Meanwhile, in Kerry TDs Martin Ferris of Sinn

Fin and Independents Tom Fleming and
Michael Healy-Rae addressed a protest in
Tralee organised by the Tralee Right2Water
group.
Organisers estimated the number of
participants at around 600.
A march was also held in Listowel, organised
by the Listowel Right2Water group.
Elsewhere, up to 500 people took part in a

protest against water charges in Galway city
organised by the group We Wont Pay.
After listening to several speakers in Eyre
Square, the crowd then marched down Shop
St towards Dominick St and returned via
Quay St and back to Eyre Square.
The speeches contained many references to
the new anti-Troika government in Greece.
Around 300 people protested in Sligo with

some lining up along the Garavogue River to
symbolise peoples' ownership of water.
Some protesters also burned Irish Water
registration packs outside the office of local
Fine Gael TD John Perry.
Richard Boyd-Barrett of the People Before
Profit Alliance said people will continue to
take to the streets until they are heard.
In Limerick, a 13ft 'We Won't Pay' banner was
unfurled from King John's Castle as part of
demonstrations against water charges.
King John's Castle was one of twelve

locations across the county, where protests
and information leaflets were distributed.
Other areas included Corbally, Dooradoyle,
Kings Island Community Centre, Watchhouse
Cross and Roxboro in the city and Croom and
Newcastlewest in the county.
Follow
Joe Mag Raollaigh

Water protests underway good natured and loud
2:03 PM - 31 Jan 2015
Follow
EileenMagnier
Approx 300 at sligo anti water charges protest
2:35 PM - 31 Jan 2015 Sligo, Ireland, Ireland
An estimated crowd of 4,000 marched in

Letterkenny against the water charges. The
march was organised by the Right2Water
group, and with a large Sinn Fin attendance
marched from the Port Road to the Market
Square on Main St.
Follow
Joe Mag Raollaigh

Man climbs gates to hang a sign. Others present object;
chanted peaceful protest Kildare street empty now
3:56 PM - 31 Jan 2015
Around 200 protesters marched from

O'Connell Street to Mountjoy Prison this
evening after five water charge protesters,
who were found in contempt of court, were
given jail sentences.
Three people were jailed for 28 days and two
others were given sentences of 56 days each.
Following the ruling this afternoon a group of
protesters blocked a garda van from exiting
the complex at the Courts of Criminal Justice.
A
group of protesters also blocked traffic near
the CCJ on Parkgate Street, before beginning
a slow march in front of the traffic towards
the city centre.
O'Connell Bridge was blocked for a short
time, before the protest moved towards the
GPO on O'Connell Street, where there was a
sit-down protest by a number of people.
The protesters then marched towards
Mountjoy Prison. Traffic in the city
was severely disrupted.
Follow
Conor Hunt
Now marching to Mountjoy-- traffic still being affected
5:43 PM - 19 Feb 2015
Follow
Conor Hunt
Scene outside Mountjoy
6:53 PM - 19 Feb 2015
The Anti-Austerity Alliance has condemned

the jailings.
AAA TD Paul Murphy said: "The jailing of
these protesters and the arrests in Tallaght is
an attack on the right of communities to
protest against the imposition of austerity
measures, in this case the water charge and
meters, which are being imposed by the
Government despite the massive opposition
to them."
A protest took place this morning outside the Childerns

Court in Smithfield in solidarity with a (now) 17 year old
who took part in the Jobstown water charges protest
against the then Labour Leader Joan Burton. Dawn raids
on multiple houses were launched by the Garda after the
protest and some of those arrested where charged with
False Imprisonment for delaying the Labour Party leader in
her car. Its hard to imagine a more political trial, a trail
that will ensure that the people understand the politicians
are to be feared. The verdict is due after 15.00 this
afternoon.
Last night the JobstownNotGuilty page posted this
summary of what has been learned by those observing the
trial
"1. Joan Burton has her story, and shes sticking to it:
Joan Burtons evidence in the prosecutions case was
reported on by the media very sympathetically. It
amounted to a re-hash of her version of events which she
has aired many times in the Dail and in interviews.
Unfortunately for her most of this has been debunked
already.
Far from being welcomed by graduates at An Cosan, many
had complained about her attending and had refused to
accept their award from her, some even joined the protest
after. The protest was not made up of tough looking men
in dark clothes with anti-women attitudes the majority
of people on the protest were in fact women.
2. Burton laid in a couple of final insults to Jobstown
Burton laid in a couple of final insults to the people of
Jobstown. There is a sneering class bias that barely
conceals itself throughout her testimony.
She described remembering the defendant because of his
clean blue tracksuit why use clean? Was this a
surprise to her, did she expect people to be filthy? The exTanaiste was at pains to stress that the whole time she
was so worried about the children who were out
unaccompanied- what exactly is she getting at here? That
parents shouldnt let their children out to play in their own
area or that theyre unfit parents, its one or the other. She
described the protest as wild and worried what would
have happened had protesters been able to open her car
door. Lets ignore the obvious fact that the car door was
locked and therefore couldnt be opened from THE
OUTSIDE, she is trying to portray a scene of ordinary
people at a protest who couldnt contain themselves
basically that the people there were animals.
3. Despite this Burton and her assistant have been caught
out
Burton and her assistant have put on performances in the
witness box to help secure a conviction. But despite their
performances they have been caught out a couple of
times.
They have both made a big play on offensive language
that was used to portray the protesters as thugs. Burtons
assistant was asked what words were being shouted at
them, before answering she turned to the judge to explain
how she herself would never use such language and she
apologised for saying them in advance shes not a thug
like the protesters you see! However, video footage taken
from inside the car which she and Burton were in shows
her using language which was just as bad as anything
anybody used at them.
Burton too has been caught out by video footage from the
car while supposedly fretting about children, worrying
about being killed, and helping her assistant who was
hyperventilating she can be heard telling her assistant to
go on social media and say there was nobody looking after
the children and they were free to roam the streets! This
shows that for Burton, this is an attempt to take political
advantage out of her supposed 'false imprisonment'.
4. The Gardas case of what constitutes false
imprisonment is falling apart
Despite having a special investigation unit set-up and
months spent preparing for the trial the evidence
produced by the Gardai against the 17 year old young
man shows nothing! If he is convicted of false
imprisonment it will be for taking part in a 700 strong
protest.
The evidence amounted to asking the Tnaiste to answer a
question on camera. He is then seen on video walking
around. Later he is shown again leading a chant on a
mega-phone; again he is shown with a mega phone while
someone else speaks through it asking others to not throw
eggs. Another video shows him waving his arms, while yet
another shows him walking beside the car as a slow march
took place. Anybody who has paid attention to the
reporting of the trial will be asking where is the false
imprisonment?
5. The Gardai are denying that an agreement was made
with protesters, despite all the evidence
This is the most serious denial to be made all week. On
the day, an agreement was struck between protesters and
the Gardai that if the Public Order unit was withdrawn a
slow march would take place to allow the Tnaistes car
leave. This was agreed by the crowd and happened.
Even in media reporting of the protest such as the RTE
News, the video footage of this was played.
However, on the stand Detective Inspector Derek Maguire
denied an agreement had been made. Despite video
footage showing the Public Order unit backing off, and a
slow march taking place as outlined in the agreement, he
still denied an agreement was struck.
This will be a major issue in the adults trial in April, as a
key part of the prosecutions evidence will be video in
which the agreement was put to the crowd: if they agree
to withdraw the public order unit, do we agree to let her
go? If the Gardai persist in saying that no agreement was
struck they will use this against the other defendants to
make a stronger case for false imprisonment."
From today the ladies who have been at the forefront of

blockades/stoppage at #IrishWater meter installations
across communities, found another catch but in their
locality and were held till 9:2OPM at NIGHT!..
Blockading Irish Water till after 5 o'clock is a tactic used to
prevent Irish water entering other estates, so holding
them a further amount is making sure they never come
back. Solidarity to the women and guys who did a long
haul blockade and here's a message from one of the
resisters:
"Today a few of us blocked Iw and their companions
Richard Nolan in Cherrywood loughlinstown... They were
held there untill 9.20pm, to show them they are not
welcome in our communities
We would also like to thank
"Roma" chipper in loughlinstown for giving us free chips
We will not back down and we have not gone away.

TDs query Irish Waters access to DPP ahead of legal
actions
Justine McCarthy September 25 2016, 12:01am, The
Sunday Times
Irish Water has held discussions with the Office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) about how the

utilitys relationship with water meter installers can be
best presented in criminal prosecutions.
TDs who oppose water charges claim the discussions
indicate an unusual level of access to the DPP and say
that they intend to raise the matter in the Dail.
The discussions came to light in a letter obtained during
court proceedings relating to an anti-metering protest in
Dun Laoghaire in May 2015.
The letter, dated July 20, 2015, was written by Kevin
McSherry, Irish Waters metering development manager,
and was addressed to Superintendent Kevin Dolan in Dun
Laoghaire garda station. It described the discussions with
the DPPs office as being at a high level.
McSherry said it had been agreed that a corporate witness
statement would be provided for each prosecution from a
senior Irish Water manager, which will highlight, inter
alia, the relationship between Irish Water and its
contractors and the fact that Irish Water is entitled,
pursuant to its corporate memorandum and articles, to act
through contractors.
Joan Collins, an Independents 4 Change TD who was
acquitted last February of charges arising from an antiwater protest, said: I would think its highly irregular that
a company would have direct contact with the DPP, and Ill
be asking questions in the Dail.
The DPP is supposed to be independent. She cannot even
give reasons for her prosecution decisions. To have a
company have private discussions with her or her officials
is sinister.
A spokeswoman for Irish Water said there was nothing
out of the ordinary about the meeting. [It] was simply
for the purposes of clarifying a legal procedural query we
had, she said. An Garda Siochana had requested
clarification on how Irish Water would demonstrate our
legal relationship with our metering contractor, as this
evidence would be required for any prosecution against a
third party for interference or obstruction of the
contractor.
We met with the DPP to clarify the appropriate way to
provide evidence of this legal relationship and this was
deemed to be through a witness statement.
Irish Waters head of capital delivery subsequently

provided a witness statement for prosecutions being taken
by the DPP.
Paul Murphy, an Anti-Austerity Alliance TD, described the
letter as fairly significant.
Irish Water is not the gardai. It is a semi-state company.
The letter raises question marks over the DPP and what
was happening in those discussions. There is at least a
problem of perception, he said.
Murphy is due to go on trial next year on charges relating
to a protest in Jobstown during which Joan Burton, the
then tanaiste, was trapped in her car.
The DPPs office did not reply to questions.
At 10am on Tuesday the 20th of September at the special
criminal court at the ccj three community activists who
also happen to be Republican activists will be brought
before the special criminal court for a bail application.
The lads have been charged with membership of the IRA,
this charge was directed by the DPP. Under the special
criminal court ANYONE can be convicted of being a
member of the IRA based on the testimony of a senior
police officer.
Consider that for a moment, without any evidence them
lying bastards can lock any of us up through this kangaroo
court, the special criminal court.
I personly know two of the lads, Johnathan Hawthorn and
Dnall Ceallaigh, great activists each of them and all 3
lads were active in the resistance of #IrishWater. Dnall is
also my grandson Killians father.
I would appeal to anyone who is free to attend the bail
hearing if possible.
The best thing about the resistance of #IrishWater was
that it was a broad grouping of rebels, mothers, fathers,
sons and daughters, and we all had to put our differences
aside and watch each others back.
We got fucked around the place by the cops, we got jailed
by the judges and we got a never ending stream of
illegitimate charges from the DPP(still ongoing). We all
learned about state intimidation and harassment.
Now the state seeks to destroy the bonds of solidarity that
was build on our sweat and blood.
Don't expect the politicians or union leaders to understand
this nor use their elevated voices to speak up for us, they
don't represent us, they only represent their own pathetic
ego's.
I sincerely hope that we still have each others back and
that we continue to stand together, especially against
injustice.
Solidarity is strength.
Class traitor ex minister Joan Burton will be at the

children's court in Smithfield at 10am on Monday giving
evidence trying to get a child convicted of false
imprisonment relating to a sitdown protest in Jobstown
when she was delays for a little while.
I don't need to tell you this would be an ideal opportunity
to block her entering and leaving with another sitdown
protest, perhaps she can be delayed for another little
while.
Howlin said "EU law takes precedence over the Irish
Constitution and legislation."
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brussels-rebukes-ireland-overwater-charges-s6sm7bj3w
Judicial review of the legality of section 12 obstruction of
#IrishWater will be going forward to a full hearing the high court
decided today. All my section 12 cases have been stayed(put on
hold) awaiting the outcome of this initial action in the four courts.
The case being accepted is just the first stage, we will be back
before the high court on July 12th for further written legal argument.
If your currently charged with section 12 you can apply to your local
court or high court for a stay to put your case on hold.
IW suspension
Jun 24, 2016
Clare Daly speaking on the latest government attempt to fudge
the Irish Water issue.
There is evidence emerging in the courts, where several of

these cases are being taken, of high level collusion
between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,
Dpp, An Garda Sochna, Irish Water and its contractors in
trying to criminalise people before any protests even took
place and people were charged. Meetings took place in
order to block and demonise people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7TUiyrXhw&feature=youtu.be
TDs are being asked to

'break EU law' by
legislating to suspend
water charges Howlin
John Downing Twitter
BIO
PUBLISHED
28/06/2016
Brendan Howlin Photo: Tom Burke
FORMER Public Spending Minister,

Brendan Howlin, has said a law before the
Dil to suspend water charges effectively
breaks EU law.
The Labour leader challenged Justice Minister Frances
Fitzgerald following an assertion yesterday by the EU
Environment Commissioner that Ireland has no
exemption on water charges.

Commissioner Karmenu Vella said Irelands earlier
exemption ended in July 2010 when the Fianna Fil-Green
Party Coalition told Brussels they were introducing water
charges.
Mr Howlin, who was still a government minister two
months ago, said legislation currently going through the
Dil breached EU law. He said EU law takes precedence
over the Irish Constitution and legislation.
The Oireachtas has never before knowingly been asked to
contravene European law, the Labour leader said.
The Justice Minister, Frances Fitzgerald, said the
Government was acting in line with the law and the
Constitution and the water legislation will proceed.
She said the issue had been fully debated by Cabinet and a
meeting with the EU Commissioner was now scheduled.
Ms Fitzgerald rejected arguments by Anti-Austerity
Alliance TD, Paul Murphy, that the EU was seeking to set
aside the Irish general election outcome which was a vote
against water charges.
Mr Murphy cited German socialist writer, Bertolt Brecht,
saying the EU Commission wanted to dissolve the people
and elect another. The AAA deputy said the EU was
authoritian, capitalist and militaristic.
The Justice Minister also told Sinn Feins Mary Lou
McDonald that Northern Irelands interests would be
promoted by the Government in upcoming Brexit talks
with the EU. She said Belfast, Dublin and London would
cooperate at every level of negotiations.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/tds-are-being-askedto-break-eu-law-by-legislating-to-suspend-water-charges-howlin34840991.html
Anyone who is selling utopian, populist rhetoric that

basically legally you can do whatever you want to do...
[they] are going to find out pretty quickly pretty the
European Commission are going to come down very hard
on us".
EU: Ireland cannot abolish water charges

27/06/2016
The European Commission has stated there is no way for

Ireland to legally abolish its system of water charges.
Authorities in Brussels have said it is now clearly Ireland's
"established practice" to impose domestic water charges.
In a reply to a written question from MEP Marian Harkin, it
said Ireland made a clear commitment to implement the
charges under a plan submitted by former environment
minister John Gormley in 2010.
It says Ireland's derogation against water charges was lost at
that point, and there is now no way under European directives
that a previous practice can be restored.
The Minister for European Affairs Dara Murphy has said it is

welcome news: I think the process we have ahead of us now
to try and get consensus in this country, to have a measured
debate, is going to be welcome.
I think it is up to us in politics to convince people, that there is
merit in having a fair, balanced, limited scheme for charging
for water,
That achieves the ambition and that is reduces waste of water

and guarantees our water supply for parts of the country going
into the future.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eu-ireland-cannot-abolish-watercharges-741998.html
EU is spinning at the moment from Brexit and via RTE we are
expected to believe that they would choose this moment in time to
make 'claims' about water charges....right?
High court, four courts on Monday 27th at 11.30, for

judicial review of section 12 obstruction of Irish water.
Court number should be known Monday morning.
I am not entirely clear if its going ahead on this day or
what?
All welcome.
Taxpayer paid 50k a

month in rent for Irish
Ambassador in Tokyo
03/10/2016 | 02:30
[
1
Tokyo
The State paid as much as 50,000 a month

in rent for the residence of Ireland's
Ambassador to Japan.
The six-bedroom property where Ambassador Anne
Barrington and her husband Ed Miliano lived in Tokyo
cost around 600,000 a year until September 2015.
The current price for the residence now stands at 46,000
per month.
Details of the prices paid by the Department of Foreign
Affairs were first revealed in an 'Irish Mail on Sunday'
article last week.
In a statement, a spokesperson said that a rent review last
year led to a drop in the "core rent" of the property.
"During the most recent negotiation the core rent
(excluding parking facilities, etc) was reduced from
5,670,000 yen (49,768) to 5,103,000 yen (44,792)."
The spokesperson added that the final charge came to
46,220 once all bills were included.
It emerged that Department officials initially signed an
upward-only rental agreement in 2001. This rent review
mechanism ended in 2009, but officials would not say
what the initial lease was signed at, or how much the
monthly rent had risen to by that year.
The property is located at the Motoabazu Hills Forest
Terrace East complex, and is currently the most expensive
of Ireland's ambassadorial residences.
The 720 square metre residence is in a 29-storey
apartment block, and is in one of Tokyo's wealthiest and
most desirable neighbourhoods.
According to the Irish Embassy, 30 to 40 events are hosted
in the premises each year.
It also houses a 302.22 square metre function area, a fourbedroom apartment where the Ambassador and her
husband live, and two separate bedrooms for embassy
staff. The complex features a wine cellar, a golf range, a
roof garden and an on-site spa for tenants.
Ireland's Embassy in Tokyo is understood to be much
smaller and more modest, with most official events being
held at the Residence.
But the Department stressed that it continues to seek
other accommodation options in Tokyo. "The Embassy has
extensively explored the option of other office
accommodation," it said. "This includes the prospect of
combining the Chancery, space for functions and
residential accommodation into a single location."
The Department previously said it was "actively engaged"
in seeking alternatives to renting, as prices in the Japanese
capital are high and continue to rise.
Ms Barrington says she is now considering making a
complaint against the 'Irish Mail on Sunday', saying the
article implied her husband, an artist, used the residence
for business.
A spokesperson for the Department was unavailable for
further comment when contacted by the Irish
Independent.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/taxpayer-paid-50k-amonth-in-rent-for-irish-ambassador-in-tokyo-35098123.html

Irish Water Toxic Tap and The Cover Up of Confidential Cowen Papers in 2010

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Irish Water Toxic Tap and The Cover Up of Confidential Cowen Papers in 2010

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IRISH WATER TOXIC TAP AND

the cover up of CONFIDENTIAL

CAN WE TRUST THEM SERIES

Cabinet meetings on 8 September and 15 September 2010he papers dating

The 2007-2011 government also proposed the establishment of a

new water agency to manage and deliver the metering programme,

after observations were received, "particularly those of the

EU/IMF Programme of Financial

The memorandum of understanding may

complemented by the availability of

headwinds from fiscal consolidation on

exposures to the real estate sector,

an overhaul of the financial sector with

be taken to resolve the position of

This reorganisation and downsizing of

result in an injection of 10bn of fresh

influenced by two factors: the quantum

including the above-mentioned

The existing mortgage interest

for targeted lending for new or

National Recovery Plan 2011-14 was

and further savings on social transfers

201214. We will continue to rely on

Budget Formation Process will be put in

under the Extended Arrangement to

Understanding (TMU) defines the

framework agreement will be

June 30, 2011 September 30, 2011 (In

ratio of 12 percent core tier 1 (MEFP,

Prior Action Structural Benchmark

Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM)1 will be

deficit in line with the MEFP. It includes

nominal budget deficit on ESA95 basis

existing outsourcing arrangements with

- The PCAR for 2011 will be completed

non core assets and set an adjustment

restructuring undertaken to date,

legislation will be consistent with the EU

iii. Structural reforms

unemployment and social assistance

jobseekers' activities with regular

the budget for 2011 and the fiscal

and the IMF. The results will be

iv. Structural fiscal reforms

afterwards, consistent with the

institutions will be assessed by the

to legislation to (1) empower judges to

To ensure a more credible fiscal

deficit ceilings in the Memorandum of

to ensure that the deficit reduction

this assessment with a view to setting

consolidation measures announced

- Progress in implementing of the

be assessed, together with European

as set out in the EU Council

sector will be completed.

together with the European

results will then be published in detail

strategy for the reorganisation of Irish

authorities on a regular basis.

year and the following four years, using

position of the Exchequer Account. The

Exchequer tax revenues, non-tax