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Enda Kenny is expected to resign as Taoiseach later today to be replaced by party colleague Leo Varadkar. This piece, which was originally published on 17 May, looks at what he’ll be remembered for.
FROM RELUCTANT TAOISEACH to reluctant ex-Taoiseach, Enda Kenny’s career will go down as a truly exceptional one in Irish politics.
When he took the position in 2011 it was the first time Fine Gael had won power in an election in almost 30 years. His re-election five years later was the first time the party had been returned in its history.
Both these events followed a decade in which Kenny rebuilt a party that had been decimated by the electoral success of Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fáil.
In short, Kenny delivered for Fine Gael.
Throughout that time however, questions persisted about whether this success was built on Kenny’s stewardship of the party or in spite of it.
Not that his style was ever destructive, but a general attitude towards him amongst the public – that was at best indifferent – often forced Fine Gael into sidelining him come election time.
This internal battle between Kenny as an asset and a liability is one that has been at the centre of his leadership for the past 10 years.
It’s what led to the failed coup against him in the summer of 2010 and it’s ultimately hastened his now-confirmed departure.
Seven years ago, it was the fear that Kenny was the reason for stagnating poll numbers at a time when the economy and Fianna Fáil were in meltdown.
Now, it’s a fear in Fine Gael that the party could be caught out by an election without a new leader in place.
With a steely determination that surprised many, Kenny faced down that first failed heave. This time around, he’s also managed to face down would-be challengers long enough to leave somewhat on his own terms.
Kenny had said repeatedly that he would not lead his party into another election after two stints as Taoiseach, he’s now managed to stay on further into that second term than many had predicted.
Dynasty
Even though Kenny’s political career has defied convention in many ways, its beginnings very much fit the standard mould.
After the death of his father Henry Kenny TD in 1975, Enda Kenny won the subsequent by-election and was elected to be the youngest member of Dáil Éireann.
The elder Kenny was a former All-Ireland winning footballer with Mayo and was also a teacher and principal of a national school in their native Islandeady.
Enda Kenny didn’t reach the heights of his father on the GAA pitch but was nonetheless an accomplished footballer in his own right. A corner-forward for Islandeady himself, Kenny has also managed and coached the club and has been named as its honorary president for life.
For the first decade after being elected as a TD, Kenny kept a relatively low profile.
He only entered the national political arena when appointed as a Minister of State in Department of Education and Labour by Garret FitzGerald in 1986.
Fine Gael was removed from power in an election the following year but Kenny managed to hold his seat. He was therefore on the party’s frontbench in opposition and consolidated his position as one of its foremost figures.
It was during this period that Kenny married his long-time partner Fionnuala. The pair had met about a decade earlier in the corridors of Leinster House when she was working as part of Fianna Fáil’s press team.
As the first ever female government press secretary, it’s long been said that Fionnuala’s ambition rubbed off on Kenny and it’s certainly true that their marriage coincided with a period of political success for him.
Two years after they married, Kenny helped form the ‘rainbow coalition’ government with Labour and Democratic Left and he became a full minister for the first time in the Department of Tourism.
Following this three-year stint in government for Fine Gael, the party suffered a steep electoral decline and it is during this period that Kenny seized his chance to take the leadership.
Former Taoiseach John Bruton survived as Fine Gael leader until 2001 when Kenny surprised Irish political observers by putting himself as one of the contenders to take over.
Despite being a minister, he had never been regarded to be interested in the top job and his infamous pledge to “electrify” the party failed to convince. Instead, Fine Gael went for Michael Noonan and ploughed head first into an electoral collapse a year later.
The 2002 general election was among the worst in the party’s history and its loss of 23 seats sent it into a wilderness of opposition amid a booming economy.
Fine Gael’s front bench suffered some big casualties but crucially Kenny managed to hang on. In the leadership contest that followed, Kenny won out and took on the daunting task of rebuilding the party.
In the years that followed, Kenny hit the road and was widely praised within the party for the work he did on the ground.
But his public persona remained relatively pedestrian and his first general election as leader in 2007 didn’t really capture the country’s imagination either.
The party’s US-inspired ‘Contract for a Better Ireland’ pledge didn’t really connect with the electorate and he failed to deliver any knockout blows in a TV debate with Bertie Ahern.
It meant the Drumcondra man won his third straight term as Taoiseach.
But the overall result proved to be a blessing in disguise for Kenny. His party closed the gap with Fianna Fail from 50 seats to 26, putting itself in a strong position as the economic storm clouds gathered.
Heave
As the economy began to at first slowly and then very rapidly unravel over the next number of years, Fianna Fáil were forced into implementing successive austerity budgets and the government lurched from crisis to crisis.
But during a time when the Irish public was perhaps more versed in economic matters than it has even been, Kenny’s handle on such matters was being questioned.
It appeared the party had allowed Labour steal a march in opposition and Kenny’s leadership was blamed as the reason why Fine Gael was not benefiting in the polls.
In an oral history of the 2010 heave previously published on TheJournal.ie, political journalist Deaglán de Breádún told Hugh O’Connell that Kenny’s leadership was coming into focus:
(Eamon) Gilmore was forging ahead by leaps and bounds and was building a huge reputation ostensibly around the place. Kenny’s stock was falling correspondingly.
But the haphazard attempts to actually unseat and replace Kenny failed and the disorganisation allowed him to take the initiative in the battle.
As well as publicly sacking Richard Bruton, a TV blitz from the leader and some backroom cajoling from both Kenny and Phil Hogan left the would-be conspirators with nowhere to go.
Kenny’s survival and his decisive actions in seeing off the challenge did a number of things for him.
Firstly, it ensured he’d lead Fine Gael into the coming general election. Secondly, it demonstrated a steely side that perhaps the public needed to see.
Seven months and a €80 billion bailout for Ireland later, Kenny was facing into his second general election as Fine Gael leader. This time, such was the political situation, he was almost certain to be Taoiseach.
Knowing the party was being presented with the biggest open goal an opposition could hope for, Fine Gael seemed determined not to blow its chance.
The frequently ridiculed but ultimately successful ‘Five Point Plan’ message delivered ad nauseam by Kenny during that period will almost certainly be the public’s greatest takeaway of Kenny the campaigner.
In part because it encapsulates a difficulty in connecting with the wider public on any level beyond that of a competent team leader.
But even if it was robotic, it worked. The plan’s focus on economic management came at a time when the Irish public were ready to accept any perceived misgivings – so long as the ship was righted.
In office
Kenny’s first years as Taoiseach were perhaps both bolstered and hampered by the all-seeing eye of the Troika.
The periodic visits here by a joint IMF, ECB and EU delegation became a strange routine that Irish people became used to.
The government walked a tightrope between implementing the agreed austerity and appearing too deferential to Ireland’s bailout masters.
During this period, Kenny took some of the most direct criticism from opposition politicians for not arguing more vociferously for Ireland on the European stage.
The oft-repeated plea to ‘burn the bondholders’ became a frequent political cry each time the Irish State repaid a multi-billion repayment to unsecured bondholders.
Even the head of the Troika’s mission to Ireland was forced to eventually admit that he felt it was unfair to make Irish taxpayers pay such debts.
But Kenny and his loyal Finance Minister Michael Noonan persisted with this strategy and they will claim success on a number of fronts, foremost of which was the departure of Ireland from the Troika programme itself.
Deals to lengthen the period over which Ireland repays bank debts and the renegotiation of terms with the Troika were also heralded to save billions.
Added to this were unemployment figures that have continued to fall and the intangible fact that Kenny’s adherence to EU wishes may have built up credit for Ireland that is now much needed in Brexit negotiations.
But all of this came at a cost. One of the Troika’s stipulations was the introduction of a water charge regime and the issue came to dominate the latter part of Kenny’s first government.
The opposition to water charges became the touchstone issue for the wider opposition to swingeing austerity and Kenny’s government bore the brunt as people took to the streets.
These issues continue to this day.
There were other challenges too.
Early in Kenny’s first term the publication of the Cloyne report detailed and exposed how church authorities had dealt with allegations of abuse in the Cork diocese.
The Taoiseach’s strong response to the report and a Dáil speech in which he directly challenged the Vatican made people stand up and take notice, in Ireland and abroad.
The backbone Kenny had shown in extinguishing the heave against him was transferred to the Dail chamber where the Catholic Church was challenged by a Taoiseach in a manner not seen before.
The Vatican was even forced to respond to Kenny’s speech and his contribution remains the most powerful he made during his time as leader.
Referendum time
Despite overseeing the introduction of divorce during its previous stint in government, Fine Gael had long been seen as socially conservative.
But Kenny’s first government oversaw a number of significant social changes, one of which bore significant political costs for his party.
While Labour reasonably argues that the impetus for the same-sex marriage referendum can from their side of the coalition, Kenny and Fine Gael were nonetheless active and enthusiastic in ensuring it passed.
Kenny famously stumbled over a flower pot in 2012 as journalists pushed him on his views on same-sex marriage but once the party’s course was set in favour of marriage equality, Kenny was steadfastly behind it.
Some may criticise Kenny’s reticence to support full marriage equality but many world leaders, Barack Obama among them, have spoken about how their view on the issue evolved over time.
While Fine Gael’s support for marriage equality was clear, it was noteworthy that much of the actual campaigning for the Yes vote was driven by LGBT and rights groups rather than political parties.
Referendums are frequently used by voters to tell the government of the day how they feel and there was a sense during the 2015 campaign that advocates and politicians alike were keen to keep the issue to the fore.
Kenny perhaps partly fell victim to this in 2013 when the referendum on abolishing the Seanad was defeated.
The proposal was not a universally loved one by politicians and was very closely associated with Kenny himself. Its defeat left him with a bloody nose that would have been much worse had same-sex marriage not been passed.
Abortion is another social issue that Kenny at least partly dealt with in a way that the governments which preceded him did not.
The passing of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act legislated for the Supreme Court decision in the X Case, 21 years after the ruling was made.
Kenny’s determination to proceed with it cost Fine Gael some high-profile parliamentarians and again demonstrated his resolve. Renua, the party that was formed as a direct result of that debate, has also been floundering.
Furthermore, while the ultimate consequence of the Citizens’ Assembly are far from clear, there is at least a momentum that will likely see an abortion referendum next year.
Re-election
As already touched upon, Kenny’s re-election as Taoiseach was historic for his party, but it was far from clearcut.
The public’s electoral judgement on his first term as Taoiseach was to strip the party of 16 seats and to resuscitate Fianna Fáil just one cycle after they’d lashed them at the polls.
Kenny was visibly disappointed on election night and questions over the future of his leadership were splashed over the front pages again.
Again though, demonstrating a doggedness that once seemed alien but now seems characteristic, Kenny proved the doubters wrong
It took four nominations and votes before he was officially returned and elected Taoiseach for the second time.
In the 70 days between that day and the election day, Irish politics was transformed with a deal that saw Fine Gael govern as a minority party with the qualified support of Fianna Fáil.
The judgement on that arrangement is still pending but the one thing that is for sure is that Kenny has presided over it for longer than most expected.
The reluctance of his would-be successors to wield the axe shows both the respect for what he’s achieved and also the knowledge that previous efforts to unseat him have been met with canny resistance.
Such political nous is not what defines one’s legacy, however. The achievements secured as a result of it are.
Time will tell what Kenny presents and claim as his greatest legacy, but a record as Taoiseach of righting the ship when it was most required will surely be part of it.
Whether he did this successfully and fairly is ultimately what others will judge him on.
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So where’s the incentive to pay?
It’s what I love about this country.
It is so incredibly unstructured.
If you are astute enough, you can get away with murder..
If the headline had been “Irish Water has ability to cut off supply if bills are unpaid” you’d be giving out stink that it’s immoral for a company to cut off the supply of something within your human right to receive.
Antonov, I’m not exactly sure what way to take that!
Little Jim…
You have to figure out this one all by yourself. Best of luck.
Reduce the pressure to a trickle if you refuse to pay…that way you still have supply albeit a very poor one..
we already pay ‘kris’
No we don’t “werejammin”…I am pretty sure I never paid a water bill before…
You are already paying through general taxation.
On the last tax breakdown I think water cost the average taxpayer about €40 per annum..do you think the ‘water charges’ will reflect this?..nope..me neither.
Kris your paying through general taxation at the moment and if you have paid Local Property Tax that is now going to Irish Water to pay for the meters. Looks like the only local service many LPT payers will see is a water meter being installed.
Chilling…
Just putting it out there…. Why don’t we all just not pay :-)
We are already paying it’s called tax
Eòin…
Now that is what I call being proactive in a theoretical sense.
Next step: How do we motivate people to follow this idea❓
I think the bill will motivate them, especially if the only outcome is reduced water preasure
Eion – too late bud, we have been paying it since 1977 in the form of 2% added to vat.
Yes Eoin . Thats what should have been done at the beginning of this shambles.
See you in court so…
No water company in Europe can cut you off. Human rights and all that.
Matt seeing as the country doesn’t take kindly to non payment of fines would you expect people to end up with jail sentences instead? I know it would take a long time but they’ll probably have to try something because I can see compliance with this one being very low.
I guess the revenue people will get the final job of collecting it from pay packets and the like and from your bank . It’s getting to the stage where we can’t bank our cash anymore it’s too open to be stolen illegally from the government .
By
In Spain they do cut you off
Oh yes they can and do. The way around it to specify that if you want water you have to agree the rules. Most continental suppliers apply this system. You’ll also get no servicing, e.g. if your drains are blocked. In most of the (better organised?) countries the water, drains, etc., are paid from your local taxation. That way the local pols have to be seen to deliver for the money they charge. They cannot just waffle on like Hogan and divert the questions to a ‘subsidiary’ of the Gas Board.
Did I read the other day, that if you don’t use a minimum amount of water, this company can charge you extra for not using enough? I thought one of the main points of this extra taxation was to save water. By the way why are we calling things like this a charge? It’s not, it’s a tax on a tax on a tax.
@ michael. It has nothing to do with saving water, or even water itself. Its another banking losses tax which does not need to be inflicted on us.
I think I read somewhere that domestic users only use about 10% – 20% of the water supply yet end up paying the brunt of it when water charges come in, the biggest users are farming and industrial which use a hell of a lot more but per litre pay a lot lot less.
Thinking of putting in rain harvesting system and reduce mains by 60% covering toilets , washing machine , garden , car wash and use the mains for drinking water and showers . But if they charge everyone a flat rate for using water instead of using specific amounts then there’s no point . If you reduce your consumption by certain percentage then you should be rewarded by reduced charges . Anyway aren’t we paying for water already through other taxation ? Will they remove this when the new charge (tax) comes in . There’s 2 chance , a fat chance and no chance
In Spain they have plans for a solar tax on households with solar panels as those houses don’t use as much electricity as non solar panel houses. I’m just waiting for that one to be brought in here.
Well thats that then. They can’t bring everyone to court and they’ll have a hard time getting a conviction for non-payment of a service provided by a company who doesn’t have a form form you with your signature requesting the service.
Most people will pay and if you don’t they will bring you to court and win. It is very simple.
So you can explain the process by which a company can take you to court for not paying for a service you did not sign up for, can you ‘david’?
I can just imagine the judge laughing at that for a defence.
Actually, I’m laughing at your post, because you can’t explain either.
It’s the law of the land. Don’t need to explain anymore than that. But don’t worry I’m sure you can explain it to the judge.
Link to the law please that says a company can bring you to court for not paying for their service when you have not signed up for it in the first place.
Take your time….
Don’t need to link anything. If you are so sure then you won’t mind going to court and explain your position. If it’s so water tight then you are fine.
Birch – he / she can laugh all they want, but that’s all they will be doing.
And a nice fine.
Birch – can you provide a link to that law please. I’ve looked and looked and can’t seem to find anywhere there’s a law stating it’s against the law not to pay water charges.
No need to. Guaranteed the judge is on my side.
Birch – Just as I thought, your an other bluffer that’s been found out today. The judge will be on my side? FFS, grow up will you.
I’ll call your bluff. Let me know when you’re in court and we’ll see.
Birch – court for what?
Not paying water charges.
He can’t link to the law because it doesn’t exist. All mouth, no trousers, firing off the threats just like his beloved government.
Don’t worry werejammin you can go to court and prove your point. You’ve nothing to worry about with that confidence.
Birch – You really should pay attention. No-one can provide a link to any law that says it’s against the law not to pay a water charge and I can’t find one either. So what dose that mean? Yes, that’s it! If your not breaking any law you won’t be summoned to court.
Just because you can’t find it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Go to a lawyer and ask them.
As I said earlier, there will be a rulebook; the clause in the act is a con, a political stroke. Otherwise they would be in trouble, and even those morons could see that.
Time for you to give your mommy back her tablet now and go to bed. Sweet dreams, your good at dreaming up stuff that don’t exist.
You don’t need to use the water. But once you access the water pressure by turning on your tap or flushing the toilet you are accessing the Irish Water mains outside your property. By all means if you don’t want to do this disconnect your property from the mains.
Exactly, if they dont know your name they cant bill you. Just like if the TV licence letter is sent to the occupier that person doesn’t exist. You are not Mr ‘Occupier’. When I rang them when they forgot to put on my water after installing the meter they asked for name and address which I refused to give because I knew what they were at. So at some later stage they have to establish contact with the householder to set up the ‘contract’ it will be interesting to know how they do that.
Werejammin I’ll try that defence the next time I get stopped for motor tax. It’s hard to comprehend how nieve you are.
Was that directed at me? Explain. The IT link further on indicates what I said was true.
Can,t understand all this talk about not paying,we pay through our taxes and our property tax so really you all need to know we are not getting water for nothing ,so just stop and think of what else they will try to bill us with if we bow to more water charges
They reduce the amount of water to your house. So the tank will take hours to fill instead of minutes. That’s how they do without stopping your supply or breaking the law.
Niall – lol lol lol, you haven’t a clue do you.
Obviously not the plumbing one, dick! If you did serve your time as a plumber I’d say you have a good case against the company you served your time with lol. You should try hair dressing, they like to talk just for the sake of talking just like you.
I’ve done the course on fitting meters. They remove your meter and fit a cap with a pin hole in it which allows something like a 10 litres an hour through.
Niall,
are you trying to say that they reduce the flow rate. as oppose to the amount of water.
your poor terminology would imply that you haven’t't got a clue what you are talking about.
Brian – he’s a buffer, anyone who actually did serve their time could see right though this Muppet. Pins lol, a course? Takes 4 years to serve your time come back to me in 3 years a 364 days to me and I might give you some cred then.
Lads. stop bickering, this in the time seems to point that they can do what Niall is saying
Brian. reducing the flow would reduce the amount of water coming to your house over s specific time period. it can be seen as the same thing.
They tried this years ago and all that happened as as soon as the van left, locals with plumbing knowledge turned the pressure back up.
Simon – I hear what your saying but what they they can do and what they will do are poles apart. Just think of it, the cost of fitting the meter – then you won’t pay! The cost to fit a pressure regulator! (that’s the proper name for a device that restricts flow) Niall! and remove meter! Now multiple that by the amount of cash strapped house holds who can’t pay and those won’t pay? The latter would be me.
yeah understand all that, but they wouldn’t have to do it to everyone. Just like they wouldn’t have to bring everyone to court, once they do it to a few the rest start paying.
Also a lot of people gave the taxman their DD details and bank accounts for the property tax. Why do you think they are penalising people who want to pay a one off fee on credit cards. I can see the revenue collecting this charge if loads to pay it.
I have a dilemma that they came to my estate and did not fit a meter to my house for as yet unknown reasons. (presume they just could not get to the stopcock. ) I would not put it past them to make the flat charge so high that you would rather have one installed.
Simon – time to step up to the plate bud, time to make a stand. I did against the property tax and heard no more. Heard it all on here, they will take it out of your wages at source, woooo! All bull, you put them in their box! But do it right.
Niall you are 100% right in your comments, that how it will be done.
and that how we,are doing it at the moment but only at a small scale, and just to let you know I can fit a reducer on you water box in only a minute or two it about the sizes of a euro coin.
Can’t reduce the supply, the boundary box been fitted country wide can only be set to on or off,
Pat – would you care to share the manufacturer and model of the meter your referring to? I’m sure you won’t mind.
Tim it a matrix box not to sure about the meter name will have a look at one in the morning
Never heard of that make! I’ll look in tomorrow for more info, cheers.
Simon, reducing the amount is different to the flow, a poor flow could burn out a power shower. A reduced amount mightn’t as the flow could be the same but the shower shuts off when the water stops.
Pat – any luck finding out the manufacturer and model number of that water meter / regulator?
Plumbing industry in England and the north you mean . Haven’t heard of one irish person installing meters . Just English lads and it was lads from the north that put mine in. Thought installing meters was meant to create irish jobs more government spin !!!
Agreed. We had the meter installed last week. All the lads were driving uk registered van/trucks
So true Tomas they were starting to do it down the road from me , I happened to walk past with them all talking and not a single Irish voice did I hear !! Disgraceful ….!!!
I remember in london when you walked down the road where there were workman. All you heard was irish voices no english. What goes around comes around. What does it matter where they are from.
It does matter pat , there are 70% or so unemployed construction works in Ireland I think ( don’t quote me on that )
And would love a job like this …maybe there was a short fall in England at the time , but there are certainly skilled people in Ireland to do this work they just choose not to hire them ..and instead out source !! My brother for one is a qualified plumber with 10+years of experience and would be well capable of doing this job ..but instead has to work delivering from eight in the morning to 9 at night to make ends meat for his family and that I can assure you is my point ….disgraceful !!!
Boycott the bondholder water tax. Can’t pay. Won’t pay.
Water falls from this sky a plenty in this country. Also we are paying for water already through indirect taxation. Irish people need to front up sooner rather than later. All this is to pay back money to the Irish Central Bank that will be torn up anyway on receipt! What I mean is 28.1 billion that was converted from a promissory note in Feb into sovereign debt!
Blah blah blah blah
Water isn’t filtered and treated and piped enormous distances for free. We haven’t invested in water infrastructure for decades and people huge amounts because it is free. Water metering is long long long overdue and an extremely good idea.
What an odious arrogant person you are. You are no doubt a well heeled public servant who looks down on others as if somehow your tax payer funded job is so much better than everyone elses. Hortible and nasty sum you up… I hope your Christmas is rotten
Im gonna sit back and watch the sea of red thumbs pile up on david “the plummer” burke. I think you missed the bit about we already pay tax for a $hit water service. Now we will pay a lot more because of the new pig in the troff “irish water”.
Its called tax. We already pay it.
It isnt filtered or treated PROPERLY! if it were…people in Roscommon and Galway wouldn’t have been infected with cryptosporidium and Dublin wouldnt have had to face restrictions for a week.
Im not paying for a product Before its ready.
This isnt kickstarter!
Why isn’t our water infrastructure up to scratch? Because we haven’t had water charges and haven’t invested in it. We also had our water infrastructure managed by lots of different councils which is very inefficient. Water charges will improve the provision of water in Ireland.
David
We don’t have proper water infrastructure because corrupt politicians needed the Troika to come in to make sure the scam of charging for a basic human need could be forced on the Irish people.
The more water that falls from the sky the harder it is to treat. You should educate yourself before making such comments.
It seems two people LIKE having liver fluke. Odd
… but we already pay for that. What’s your point?
We pay taxes already for public services, which are mostly complete shite in this country. Why charge twice for a substandard service?
There’ll be mass default either way as many won’t be able to afford it regardless. That much is certain, much like the inevitable mortgage crisis was and is.
Great! I’m not paying.
Every home in Ireland says no to paying this double tax and it’s game over! Like the property tax, you have to agree or not contest this tax and they have you. Tell them you don’t agree to it and you won’t pay because you are already paying it and they can’t make you.
what shite are you talking?
The people of Ireland elect a government, this government bring in taxes and charges there is no option to opt out other than leave the country..
You addressing me there Brian?
They’re a joke, check ur supply once they’re finished. They left mine and my neighbours leaking a lot and walked away. I wouldn’t mind if they used it to lower the USC which is supposed to cover this in the same way a percentage of PRSI was supposed to go to the local auth in the first place. I’ve already written to them to request a credit note on my account for what I have already spent to make the supply useable. They run our water through a cement truck before we get it. Jokers!!!
If you don’t want to pay for water, disconnect your supply and gather rain water in barrels to use for drinking/ sanitation, otherwise pay the charges like the good little boys and girls most of you are
Already paying for it
You were paying for out of general taxation and soon you will pay for what you use. Much fairer this way don’t you agree?
Yeah your right in the end. I’ve never seen a bird or dog or any other animal die from drinking standing water but maybe not drinking. But for everything else showers, washing machines, dishwashers etc….
Can we expect a tax rebate so?
Excellent news
It’s about time you found yourself another rock to crawl under Kenneth. What a sad little existence you must have if each and every post is intended to patronise. An angry little kid, whose first reaction to everything is to blame.
Pitiful, you are pitiful.
No point feeding the trolls luke
The more you piss the more you pay!
Now I’m fully convinced kenneth is a computer virus that is activated by kewords like martin ,ff ,wank#r ,
Either that or the poster is a total moron.
Hold on 26 people argee with him?? Wtf is wrong with people in this country with getting bent over and kicked! Do you think the money they charge you for this is going to upgrade water ha. Maybe next the government will build a supermax prison for all the struggling families that done pay their tv licence or water rates, such horrible crimes.
I wonder what odds Paddy Power wilp give me on “lots of houses with low water pressure in the next 2 years”?
Carcu – I’ll give you a million to one no sweat!
Ah the generosity; the heartwarming generosity of this new artificial profit generating multiple taxation cash cow knows no bounds; already.
So, here is a useful summary of how we are likely to be taken to the cleaners to pay for a resource which falls freely from our skies and the supply of which we are already paying for through central taxation.
How do you feel about this?
“Water charges are set to go up every year for families because Irish Water will be allowed to increase the rate” – Indo 1/12/13.
“Households who stop wasting water and reduce their consumption could still end up with higher bills” – Indo 1/12/13.
“Irish Water will be able to seek an annual hike in water charges if its earnings are hit by a drop in the usage of water by households” – Indo 1/12/13.
“Irish Water can also seek increases if the cost of upgrading the water infrastructure turns out to be greater than expected” – Indo 1/12/13.
Irish Water will: “be allowed to keep more profits if they fix leaks faster and install water meters faster” – Indo 1/12/13.
Irish Water will be allowed “hold on to the money for six years before passing on any cost savings to householders” – Indo 1/12/13.
“Irish Water will be given the flexibility to raise water charges annually if revenue from households is less than expected” – Indo 1/12/13.
“Even if Irish Water makes more money from water charges than expected, CER is proposing to allow it to hold on to the profits” – Indo 1/12/13.
“It is estimated that households could have to pay around €300 per year in water charges” – Indo 1/12/13.
“The higher the value put on the water infrastructure being transferred to Irish Water, the higher the water charges will be for consumers” – Indo 1/12/13.
“Up to 300,000 homeowners – primarily people living in apartments that cannot be metered – will pay their bills based on average consumption” – Indo 1/12/13.
So much for the incentivisation of general water conservation or for that matter the polluter pays principle.
What is being formulated here, just like its ugly sister LPT is yet another absolutely blatant money grab. It simply beggars belief that the Labour Party are remaining complicit in facilitating this. As soon as Board Gais is seen by the privates as having been sufficiently fattened up via sweetheart deals like this they will be down on the carcass faster than a dive bomber and hence forth you and I and everybody else will be paying a handsome annual rent premium (profit) to them for our vital life giving water.
Gosh, if ever there was reason for thousands of feet to get out on the streets in protest, this has to be it.
Great summery Frank, thanks.
I was quite surprised to find out that the stopcock for the mains water was actually on my property, so when they came round to install in our estate onside of the estate had them fitted the ones with the stockcock on their property didn’t. I woundring now will i receive a request for them to come on my property or will they just flat charge me,
More than likely they’ll return and fit a new boundary box on the public footpath, just doing the easy ones first,
Water meters are great loads more work in the plumbing/pipe fitting industry…. Happy bleeding days!
More like the household charge money that was supposed to provide local services being funneled off to denis o’brien, whos company won the contract to fit the meters, who will then donate to FGs warchest for the next eleciion.
Banana republic 101.
I have a well, so you can f the hell off with your water meter
I’m running off spring water, but I still object strongly to these water charges. The average EU price is E424 a years. It’s all ahead of us.
The only people laughing will be greedy plumbers
How does Phil Hogan think that the electorate gave the Government a mandate to bring in Water charges. They were elected to run the country properly NOT to look after their friends. I think that man should have stayed in Kilkenny doing tour guide for the castle. Would have suited his character.
He is not wanted in kilkenny
He’s not wanted anywhere. The big useless muppet
Any news of the line up to buy Bord Gáis Éireann ?
I wonder if they’ll be installing water meters at the local halting sites Aunty?
@auntie Simmons, nobody will touch bord gas with a barge pole. Dennis o brian might be eyeing it up mind you
What’s that idiot hogan talking about the people did not give him permission to charge us for water what planet is he living on owl creep
Whew, so thats a relief, and there was me thinking we could get in trouble for not paying,
If enough people irritate them by not paying they’ll simply ‘pass’ it on to revenue, Smithers release the hounds.
Will charges be based on water quality. Will I have to pay the same for the hard limescale in my supply as opposed to the soft limescale free water that other areas have.
Good thing we’re not in roscommon or galway. Im not paying for liver fluke riddled water
What a simple protest this could be for the island of Ireland. Don’t pay! What will people do ? They will pay the bill and continue to mouth off. What a sad race we are.
The CER!? The same organization that approves the traditional Bord Gais Winter Price Hikes?
I call bullsh*t on this
I already pay a monthly fee to filter my water so it is fit to drink. I also don’t want fluoride in my water so they can swing for it.
When the best news is that we won’t be drinking out of/washing in rivers it’s a sad day for this country.
Just put more fluoride in the water. They’ll soon pay.
Install a pump. back in the day the water pressure in Dublin was shite and that’s the reason why we have tanks in the attic. I am not paying this charge because I know once people comply that it.
another total fook up, just typical of our government never look at the big picture.
What about the Universal Social Charge I pay? If its so universal surely it covers a basic need that is 2nd only to the air we breath?
have your say