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A REFERENDUM ON the public ownership of Irish Water is more likely after Fianna Fáil announced today it would back the bill calling for a referendum.
The bill, which is tabled by Independent TD Joan Collins, is due to come before the Dáil for a vote on Thursday, and would ask the public whether measures should be put in place to ensure that the state utility Irish Water stays in the ownership of the state.
One of the main criticisms of the controversial new state utility Irish Water is that it could be sold off to private companies, and prices (which have already been capped by Government after huge public protests) could skyrocket.
Commenting on Fianna Fáil’s position on the bill, a party spokesperson said:
“At this morning’s front bench meeting, Fianna Fáil agreed to support progressing the 35th Amendment of the Constitution (Irish Water to be retained in public ownership) Bill to the Pre Legislative Scrutiny stage.
Fianna Fáil strongly supports public ownership of the water and wastewater infrastructure and insisted on its inclusion in the Confidence and Supply Agreement with Fine Gael.
So far, 50 other TDs (Independents4Change, Sinn Féin, AAA/PBP, the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Social Democrats and Independents) have pledged to back the bill.
If you include Fianna Fáil’s support, the number grows to 94.
Joan Collins in a statement today said that “after years of uncertainty, the people of Ireland are entitled to an opportunity to guarantee public ownership and management of our water at the earliest juncture”.
According to Collins, the 35th Amendment to the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership Bill 2016) reads:
“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.”
Government position
At Cabinet today, Minister Simon Coveney was authorised to engage with opposition parties in relation to the water ownership bill which is calling for a referendum on the issue.
However, a definitive decision on whether the Government will support or oppose the bill has not yet been finalised.
Junior minister and Independent Alliance TD John Halligan, who is currently on a visit to Palestine and Israel, has said that had he been in Ireland, he would have voted with the government on the issue.
The government’s current position is that there is a clear process in place and that the issue of water ownership is dealt with in the confidence and supply agreement with Fianna Fáil, which mentions a plebiscite could be held on the issue.
A government source questioned the rationale behind Fianna Fáil support of bill, stating that if they wanted a referendum, it could have been raised during the government formation talks, in which all aspects of Irish Water and water charges was discussed.
It’s understood that while some government sources state that FF’s position does not tally with the confidence and supply agreement, it’s support of this bill does not breach the agreement.
If the bill passes, it will then enter pre-legislative scrutiny, and would in effect pave the way for a referendum on the issue of water services ownership.
Although Fianna Fáil will back the bill, they have some qualms over certain elements of the Bill:
“There are a number of issues with the Bill [that Fianna Fáil would like changed] including the question of private wells and Group Water Schemes. We look forward to proper scrutiny and debate of all of these during Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.”
With reporting from Christina Finn.
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The film is stupid and adolescent because its meant to be stupid and adolescent. Some film critics review these movies like a man going to watch a volkswagen race a ferrari and then bitching because the volkswagen lost. Get real for Chrissakes its a dumb comedy movie and as a dumb comedy movie it works! Maybe not for the tight assed wasp critics sipping martinis in the penthouse suite of the Artsy Fartsy Hilton LA but for the regular folks who just want to have a good laugh its worth the bucks.
Now there’s a comments I want to give two green thumbs
In your opinion,maybe the critics are right,are you saying we should go to every comedy that gets a crap review just to stick it to the critics? Life’s too short to be watching shite films when there are better ones out there.
Some warped and distorted idea of patriotism will have a lot of Yanks going to see this and not being 100% sure why they’re there,except some bad guy in Korea doesn’t want them to see it. Watch the trailer and save yourself 2 hours.
See I’m a fan of many stupid movies. Hot shots, monthy python, scary movie 1-3, old Adam Sandler, blackadder etc.
As I’ve said yet to see this one but it looks funny.
It isn’t. A few good scenes, but overall, more hard work than funny.
It’s a dreadful movie, maybe it’s aimed at teenagers or drunken partygoers who may also be fans of the stars but it was never going to get an academy award or raise any eyebrows, until all this hype began.
It was just another movie taking a swipe at the North Korean dictatorship and, if we’re to believe what we’re told, that was enough for them to take a swipe back launching a bad movie into infamy. Anyone old enough to remember the attempted banning of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood song “Relax” will know that to ban something is to guarantee everyone and his mother will want to see or hear it, and that’s exactly what happened here whether by accident or design.
I am up for dumb movies but this one doesn’t do a good job at being dumb. Just average… It looks like it was done in a hurry and many days were not that inspirational at coming up with good lines…
Rolling Stone are a funny old bunch these days,U2 and Bruce Springsteen topped their own Albums of the Year as well,the standards are falling it seems,jingoistic nonsense.
Rolling Stone hasn’t been relevant for over 25 years.
So just because RS favours something u don’t makes it nonsense? Get real will u that’s a ridiculous comment ,ever occur to u that millions agree with them .
I’m aiding with seth rogan on this one, don’t blame the movie itself for the hype. We are all to blame for hype.
If you don’t like pinapple express, that doomsday movie they did etc then don’t watch it, not your thing.
Last thing you should be doing is bashing a movie because your hyped expectations weren’t met, “don’t believe the hype”.
I liked Pineapple Express but this movie is pants. Yes pants.
I’ve yet to see it but thanks for the detailed review
Watched it last night , plenty of laughs. Not going to win any Oscars but for what it is its well worth a look.
I have watched half of it and so far there have been a few laughs but nothing to write home about. The film critics take themselves and this film way too seriously. It’s the sort of film that you should really sit down to after a few drinks and have a good adolescent laugh at so as to take your mind off all the crap that weighs you down.
It was rubbish!
I have seen it and it’s rubbish pure and simple not a good movie
I want to see it now after those reviews, I could do with a few stupid belly-laughs. Nice response to verge Seth.
I never thought i’d see anything worse than love/hate then this comes along. Utter tripe
My facebook time line is covered with great reviews of the film. Must give it a go.
Downloaded it last night and watched it.
There were some funny bits but overall I thought it was dreadful and racist. Then I had a read of reviews around the net and found even South Koreans didn’t find it funny and some found it offensive so I wasn’t wrong. There’s a lot of forced humour, a lot of anal and dick jokes, sexist and racist ‘humour’ with homoerotic overtones thrown in for good measure. It’s a silly movie that didn’t deserve the hype. If you really ‘need’ to see it don’t pay to see it.
Anything with Seth rogan is going to be a big steaming pile
Of awesomeness?
Total load of crap. Few funny bits.
The whole thing is media hype. North Korea didn’t hack Sony. It may all be a publicity stunt.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/24/no-north-korea-didn-t-hack-sony.html
I’ll give it a stream. Followed closely by Team America for a leadership style comparison of father and son.
Watched it last night and thought it was excellent , lots of stoner humor d1ck\fart jokes not high brow but damn funny !! Rogen and Franco are a great double act
Saw in a he articles tha one reviewer was slagging off dick jokes. Nothing wrong with a good dock joke if you ask me.
Sony honeydicked us good
Can I be the first to mention the water charges?
It’s pretty shocking that nobody has thought to praise the movie for shining a spotlight on that wa*%ker Kim Jong Un. Too few of us are aware of the unspeakable suffering wreaked upon the ordinary people of North Korea by this cruel, merciless & murderous thug and his familial regime. For raising this awareness, I’ll happily reward Sony with a cinema-ticket purchase regardless of the quality of the movie. It’s a tiny act of solidarity with those people I am unable to help. I’ll certainly not STEAL a torrent download like some other inconsiderate idiots have suggested here.
It would be ok if it actually was funny .. But it’s not . It’s embarrassing.. Crude vulgar and very badly written and acted .. A cartoon for babies would get more laughs . Waste of time . Kim should nuke Hollywood for this rubbish being allowed out . Dick and Ass jokes all the way .. Come on .
Watched it last night. Some funny parts and was better than anything on the telly
The whole family watched it, and we all thought it was briLliant.
I for one won’t be paying to watch it. …. I’ll just download it
This is the sort of movie that teaches the movie goer to ignore film critics. The film is stupid and no one involved in the production worries about offensiveness. A familiarity with The Lord Of The Rings will help the viewer understand some of the lines and some of the gags. Katy Perry fans may be annoyed. If you can hold back your laughter, you can be offended non-stop. But you’ll miss some of the best gags.
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