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Dublin City Council could "lose billions" to Irish Water

The council will be forced to hand over €2 billion worth of assets, but be left with €330 million worth of pension liabilities.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCILLORS last night voted to defer the transfer of assets to Irish Water, saying that they were “extremely concerned” about the deal.

At a special meeting of the council last night, a report was presented that showed that the council would hand over €2 billion worth of assets,  but retain €330 million worth of pension liabilities.

In a motion that was passed, councillors say that they wished to meet with Environment Minister Phil Hogan.

Hogan had declined a request to attend the meeting, which showed that water charges for businesses in Dublin city will be increased, but the council will be unable to compensate business owners for the increase.

The transfer of the assets is due to take place on 1 January, but the Service Level Agreement has not been agreed between Dublin City Council and Irish Water.

This, the council claims, is because they have yet to see the final draft of the agreement.

Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Fitzpatrick said that she felt Hogan was pushing the legislation through.

“The Minister is railroading legislation through the houses of parliament this week which will directly impact Dublin cities commercial competitiveness.

Through his legislation the Minister is dictating the disposal of more than €2billion worth of assets, removing democratic input into the future provision of services, saddling Dublin City Council with €330million pension liability and providing no guarantee that water services will not be sold-off and/or privatised in the future.

Read: Irish Water will not cut off supply to homes over unpaid charges

Read: Irish Water has ‘lot of work to do to provide safe drinking water’

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59 Comments
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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    May 15th 2014, 2:19 PM

    Ireland should have some formal way of rewarding and honouring its citizens. The president could present them each year for achievement, charity work etc. in various fields

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    Mute Rawoc
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    May 15th 2014, 2:27 PM

    This is long overdue and would be a worthy scheme to acknowledge the contribution of people in our society who make special contributions but we would need special measures to ensure independence and freedom from overt political influence!

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    Mute Jeremy Usborne
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    May 15th 2014, 3:24 PM

    Isn’t there a ‘Presidents medal’ of some kind?

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    Mute Dylan
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    May 15th 2014, 3:56 PM

    You receive something similar from the president for completing the gold Gaisce award, thats the only similar thing I can think of though what you can do to achieve a Gaisce award is a lot more restricted than an OBE or other awards.

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    May 15th 2014, 4:35 PM

    I don’t agree. It would just be abused by politicians for back slaps and laughs.

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    Mute Dylan Drein
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    May 15th 2014, 4:46 PM

    Jesus Christ is that the song that’s going to be played every time some new positive development is suggested, “no we can’t because politicians”? For an island of over 4,500,000 people I think we can do some things without mentioning one of the 166 people sitting in the Dáil. An award recognising the talents and achievements of our own is long overdue at this stage. Would she have been recognised at all in her field if she had stayed and done her research here in Ireland? Probably not, which is a bit embarrassing for us if you ask me.

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    Mute cosmological
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    May 15th 2014, 2:17 PM

    Wonderful – science is paramount.

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    Mute RiobairdOMaingain
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    May 15th 2014, 4:53 PM

    How can awards like that exist when there is no empire? Just seems a bit odd getting an Order of the British Empire when there isn’t one to start with.

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    Mute Niall Keaveney
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    May 15th 2014, 6:21 PM

    I’d love to be awarded an OBE. So I could tell them where to shove it.

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    Mute John Curry
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    May 15th 2014, 2:28 PM

    anyone know what the restrictions are?

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    May 15th 2014, 3:37 PM

    2 for 1 drinks at Parliament bar on Mondays 4:00-5:30.

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    Mute James O'Shea
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    May 15th 2014, 10:39 PM

    Re introduce The Order of Saint Patrick???

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