Abbey Park, Ferrybank, Waterford.

TheQuietFella

A well done to all the residents of Abbey Park, Ferrybank who prevented the installation of water meters during the week!

kryogen

For how long?

Harry Palmr

Pointless nonsense. Its not like they are going away and will somehow forget to come back. The guards will just be drafted by the state at extra expense.

Digital Society

Will they not just be sent estimated bills anyway? Also im sure they havent applied for their allowance so they will get charged full amount.

Whats the point in stopping them?

Surely the only way to protest is not pay the bill.

Anyone know what benefit there is in blocking them?

shinzon

this may or may not be of interest to anyone, but the Guards said to the man speaking in this video that if he could produce proof that Irish Water was a private limited company that they would remove the water meter installers from the estate

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=551104568368665&set=o.467994736651218&type=2&theater

Shin

Hijpo

Why not block them?

I don't want a water meter installed. I would do the same if sky rocked up to my house and tried to install a dish and extorted money from me to pay for the tv.

They will dig up the ground, slap in a low grade meter box, put a dodgy meter in it and as probability would have it not repair the foot path properly.

The water is still awful, the taxes we are paying that go towards the water will stay as they are, the bills will be wrong and will only ever increase as no matter what you do to conserve water IW have the ability to increase rates to make more money. Even how the company was set up and its installers makes the whole scheme an untrustworthy pharce.

Digital Society

Hijpo wrote: »

Why not block them?

I don't want a water meter installed. I would do the same if sky rocked up to my house and tried to install a dish and extorted money from me to pay for the tv.

They will dig up the ground, slap in a low grade meter box, put a dodgy meter in it and as probability would have it not repair the foot path properly.

The water is still awful, the taxes we are paying that go towards the water will stay as they are, the bills will be wrong and will only ever increase as no matter what you do to conserve water IW have the ability to increase rates to make more money. Even how the company was set up and its installers makes the whole scheme an untrustworthy pharce.

But you and everyone in the estate will still be billed is the difference. Only difference is youll get charged full whack excluding your allowances for kids etc. which i assume these protestors didnt fill in.

Are you trying to say you think they just wont bill you if you make it hard for them to install meters?

mooseknunkle

Its going to be some craic when they start to install them in Lisduggan,Larchville,Ballybeg!

thomasm

Some interesting stuff here if all true

http://www.fliuch.org/1146/update-rights

Hijpo

Digital Society wrote: »

But you and everyone in the estate will still be billed is the difference. Only difference is youll get charged full whack excluding your allowances for kids etc. which i assume these protestors didnt fill in.

Are you trying to say you think they just wont bill you if you make it hard for them to install meters?

How will they get the money from my account, in fairness they sent the details to the wrong house to begin with and my sister got her sent to our parents house.

I might consider paying if I thought for one second it wouldn't be a big cock up by a private company, set up in a gangster fashion forcing me to pay for a service Im already contributing to.

obezyana

Digital Society wrote: »

Will they not just be sent estimated bills anyway? Also im sure they havent applied for their allowance so they will get charged full amount.

Whats the point in stopping them?

Surely the only way to protest is not pay the bill.

Anyone know what benefit there is in blocking them?

Exactly. Its a complete waste of time. But these people think they are doing good for the people of Ireland.

Digital Society

Hijpo wrote: »

How will they get the money from my account, in fairness they sent the details to the wrong house to begin with and my sister got her sent to our parents house.

I might consider paying if I thought for one second it wouldn't be a big cock up by a private company, set up in a gangster fashion forcing me to pay for a service Im already contributing to.

Two possibilities.

You'll pay or you'll have your water cut off.

The water company couldnt give a ****e about where the letter went.

Dont get me wrong. I'm as pissed off about it as anyone. In fact i can guarantee i'm more pissed off than 90% of people but i just don't see what the point in this is. If they had a clear aim i would probably even support them out there but they just seem to be delaying the inevitable.

People usually protest with a realistic aim as in get a pension or get redundancy or boycott somewhere.

ROCKMAN

Is the fact that Irish Water pulled back and stopped installing meters unusual or have they done this or been forced to do this in a lot of other estates around the country? Does anyone know ?
If it is an unusual action on the part of Irish Water,does anyone know why or what was different in Abbey Park ?
Did the providing of proof of the Semi -Private Status of Irish Water by the residents play a major part in their withdrawal ?

S.O

ROCKMAN wrote: »

Is the fact that Irish Water pulled back and stopped installing meters unusual or have they done this or been forced to do this in a lot of other estates around the country? Does anyone know ?
If it is an unusual action on the part of Irish Water,does anyone know why or what was different in Abbey Park ?
Did the providing of proof of the Semi -Private Status of Irish Water by the residents play a major part in their withdrawal ?

One of the first estates they had to withdraw from was ashbrook heights cork back in april, and a number of other estates in other parts of the country since due to residents opposition, DOBs owned media mighn,t report it but there is opposition to water charges/water metering in areas.

Hijpo

Digital Society wrote: »

Two possibilities.

You'll pay or you'll have your water cut off.

The water company couldnt give a ****e about where the letter went.

Dont get me wrong. I'm as pissed off about it as anyone. In fact i can guarantee i'm more pissed off than 90% of people but i just don't see what the point in this is. If they had a clear aim i would probably even support them out there but they just seem to be delaying the inevitable.

People usually protest with a realistic aim as in get a pension or get redundancy or boycott somewhere.

They cannot cut off your water. They have also decided not to draw up a list of ilnesses that will entitle people to extra allowances.

wobbles

Very difficult to cut off water when they have no meter installed.

The whole thing is shady and I think the fact people dont know exactly how much they will have to pay is what is causing a lot of the problems. IW are handling the whole thing very poorly. They havnt finalised so much yet they expect to bill people Q3 of 2014. There are so many questions to be answered

reni10

It seems like an awful waste of money to buy and install meters for every property in Ireland, why don't they just base it on the type of house and apply a flat rate?

So 3 bed semi is €200 a year and 4 bed detached 250 etc.

They will probably get the same amount of money without the expense of buying, installing, reading, maintaining and replacing meters!

shinzon

god help us and save us how many times does this have to be said Irish water cannot cut your water off for non payment, they can take you to court for non payment but they cannot cut you off and if you don't believe me then hear it from Irish Water themselves

Shin

shinzon

re: Ferrybank estates, no point eh

Irish water stated they are withdrawing from estates in ferrybank and will only be going to work in houses that have requested meters. Its a battle won but the war is far from over. Gardai are also no longer escorting them through protesters as they were given documentation showing iw have no legal right to carry out any works in estates. Keep it lit people

Shin

Digital Society

reni10 wrote: »

It seems like an awful waste of money to buy and install meters for every property in Ireland, why don't they just base it on the type of house and apply a flat rate?

So 3 bed semi is €200 a year and 4 bed detached 250 etc.

They will probably get the same amount of money without the expense of buying, installing, reading, maintaining and replacing meters!

If you think thats all a 4 bed detached is gonna cost annually your gonna be in for a shock.

dougal

reni10 wrote: »

It seems like an awful waste of money to buy and install meters for every property in Ireland, why don't they just base it on the type of house and apply a flat rate?

So 3 bed semi is €200 a year and 4 bed detached 250 etc.

They will probably get the same amount of money without the expense of buying, installing, reading, maintaining and replacing meters!

They couldn't pretend it was all about the environment then!

Harry Palmr

You'd think water meters were a cruel and unusual punishment rather than the norm in a developed country.

http://www.oecd.org/environment/resources/1934075.pdf from 1999

Nearly two-thirds of OECD countries already meter more than 90% of single-family
houses

Hijpo

Harry Palmr wrote: »

You'd think water meters were a cruel and unusual punishment rather than the norm in a developed country.

http://www.oecd.org/environment/resources/1934075.pdf from 1999

That's been spun dozens of time and is not a valid argument as there are so many factors to take into account before you compare Ireland to other countries with water meters. You cannot simply say they have it we must have it.

That's a very lazy argument in favour of metering.

The_Shotz

Harry Palmr wrote: »

You'd think water meters were a cruel and unusual punishment rather than the norm in a developed country.

http://www.oecd.org/environment/resources/1934075.pdf from 1999

That's the same as saying, majority of countries in the EU don't pay VRT but we do so let's scrap that, "oh we couldn't be doing that now"

We always hear what we don't do but what EU countries do, we never hear what we do what they don't

Wanderer2010

Im actually fully behind the protests at Ferrybank, the arguments use the law and pure logic to prevent this, dont forget, PRIVATE company from installing a meter and then charging you for a product that you didnt consent to or sign up for. The people who are just bending over and taking it are very ignorant of the law. A private company cannot install anything on your property (or charge you for the use of something outside your property) when you have not singed the contract. You want to pay for water? Off you go. But you could see that Irish Water done currently have a legal leg to stand on in their actions.

fiachr_a

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Im actually fully behind the protests at Ferrybank

So am I, imagine paying for water in a place called Waterford!

The_Shotz

fiachr_a wrote: »

So am I, imagine paying for water in a place called Waterford!

Best argument yet :-)

Digital Society

Harry Palmr wrote: »

You'd think water meters were a cruel and unusual punishment rather than the norm in a developed country.

http://www.oecd.org/environment/resources/1934075.pdf from 1999

Any other so called developed country has their own supply of cheap gas or oil to keep the other bills down. Wouldn't care about paying for water if i could fill the car for 20 quid.

Wait until you see what happens when they have all the meters in the sell then company to the highest bidder. Someone there guessed 200 for a house! Gonna be closer to 1000 a year.

S.O

mooseknunkle wrote: »

Its going to be some craic when they start to install them in Lisduggan,Larchville,Ballybeg!

Tweet from Liz Reddy earlier.

Contractors carrying out maintenance work for @WaterfordCounci had to leave Lisduggan area as residents thought they were from Irish Water.

https://twitter.com/LilyReddy/status/515123067648225280

Sully

Lots of rumours been floating around over the last few months, the above isn't the only case of mistaken identity.

Why are a small selection in various areas that bothered if they install meters that they go to all the trouble of abusing both physically and verbally the people who are actually working and making a living? There still getting billed regardless of whether they have a meter or not and I somehow doubt if they get a bill there going to just sigh and pay up?

It's ignorant and thuggish, scummy behaviour the way workers are being treated for doing a job they are being paid to do so they can make a living and contribute to their local economy and the broader economy too. It's taken a court case to slap some protesters on the wrist.

shinzon

Sully wrote: »

Lots of rumours been floating around over the last few months, the above isn't the only case of mistaken identity.

Why are a small selection in various areas that bothered if they install meters that they go to all the trouble of abusing both physically and verbally the people who are actually working and making a living? There still getting billed regardless of whether they have a meter or not and I somehow doubt if they get a bill there going to just sigh and pay up?

It's ignorant and thuggish, scummy behaviour the way workers are being treated for doing a job they are being paid to do so they can make a living and contribute to their local economy and the broader economy too. It's taken a court case to slap some protesters on the wrist.

Two sides to every coin Sully, protestors aren't the only ones acting thuggish and scummish, my niece was part of the protests in Ferrybank (peaceful I might add) and the Irish Water workers were intimidating the protestors pushing and shoving them and whispering in there ears some very foul stuff.

in the videos that are posted on FB you can see one of the workers telling the digger operator to move forward whilst there were protestors right in front of it, so I think its vastly unfair to paint a one sided picture like that when its simply not the truth for the most part. Also don't misunderstand me anyone whether protestor or worker who engages in this should be hauled up before the courts, but I just wanted to counter balance the argument.

Shin

Hijpo

Sully wrote: »

Lots of rumours been floating around over the last few months, the above isn't the only case of mistaken identity.

Why are a small selection in various areas that bothered if they install meters that they go to all the trouble of abusing both physically and verbally the people who are actually working and making a living? There still getting billed regardless of whether they have a meter or not and I somehow doubt if they get a bill there going to just sigh and pay up?

It's ignorant and thuggish, scummy behaviour the way workers are being treated for doing a job they are being paid to do so they can make a living and contribute to their local economy and the broader economy too. It's taken a court case to slap some protesters on the wrist.

Out of interest sully, where did you get the information from that it was only protestors doing the bullying?
Was it videos from IW you saw? Stories from other people? Or where you there and actually witness this one sides intimidation you convay?
Was it billy McCarthy who had no problem letting an IW employee on his show to spread the word but wouldn't allow someone with a difference of opinion on for their view?

BuffyBot

The biggest problem with half the people involved in this is that they have very little clue what they're protesting about, apart from the vaguesness of "boo, charges" coupled with the rowdy rabble that generally just like a bit of ruckus.

Anyone who starts harassing people doing a job like that let their own side down and should take a long hard look at themselves. Anyone harassing people who aren't even from/contracted to Irish Water deserve a smack down for their ignorance. Then again, by the time someone gets there they'll probably have moved on hunting down a paedeatrician that has moved in to the area..

Hijpo

BuffyBot wrote: »

The biggest problem with half the people involved in this is that they halve very little clue what they're protesting about, apart from the vaguesness of "boo, charges" coupled with the rowdy rabble that generally just like a bit of ruckus.

Anyone who starts harassing people doing a job like that let their own side down and should take a long hard look at themselves. Anyone harassing people who aren't even from/contracted to Irish Water deserve a smack down for their ignorance. Then again, by the time someone gets there they'll probably have moved on hunting down a paedeatrician that has moved in to the area..

You failed to mention the fact that they, a proven private company, want to smash up the foot path outside their residence without permission.
Its not as cut and dry as your portraying, the water quality is destroying their very pricey appliances and now they may end up paying three times for the same quality.

This is actually pretty mild compared to what happend last time.

Cabaal

Hijpo wrote: »

Its not as cut and dry as your portraying, the water quality is destroying their very pricey appliances and now they may end up paying three times for the same quality.

I've heard numerous claims that the water is unsafe to drink, thing is...its just hard water.

Its naturally occurring in the area, hell its naturally occurring in most of Kilkenny....hell, most of Ireland & England.



I myself have lived in a hard water area for decades, its certainly not unsafe to drink.

There are ways of removing the lime, water softeners using salt is one way.

But this actually does have downsides and treated water of this nature is not recommended for small children. (I've heard this from several water softener installers).

Treated water containing salt also isn't great for plants and can built up in soil with extended use.

From my own experience, a water softner is the best long term solution to hard water. It will extend the life of appliances, heating pipes etc. When getting one fitted its best to install a separate drinking water (untreated tap) esp if you have children.

It also removes the need to use silly things like Calgon tablets which are expensive for what they do, a bag of salt for a water softner will cost around 6.50-7.50 and lasts 4-6 weeks.

Now I suppose residents could claim they should get water that isn't hard water, but then that limits the area's the water can be obtained from so this means you can't have everybody getting water from a non hard water area. Its just not workable.

In addition if you want the water treated before it reaches your home their are increased costs associated with this and potentially downsides depending on how its treated. No doubt you'll also have people unhappy with the treatment,

mooseknunkle

From Damien Tiernan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/damienrte/status/515431652890537985

Hijpo

Cabaal wrote: »

I've heard numerous claims that the water is unsafe to drink, thing is...its just hard water.

Its naturally occurring in the area, hell its naturally occurring in most of Kilkenny....hell, most of Ireland & England.



I myself have lived in a hard water area for decades, its certainly not unsafe to drink.

There are ways of removing the lime, water softeners using salt is one way.

But this actually does have downsides and treated water of this nature is not recommended for small children. (I've heard this from several water softener installers).

Treated water containing salt also isn't great for plants and can built up in soil with extended use.

From my own experience, a water softner is the best long term solution to hard water. It will extend the life of appliances, heating pipes etc. When getting one fitted its best to install a separate drinking water (untreated tap) esp if you have children.

It also removes the need to use silly things like Calgon tablets which are expensive for what they do, a bag of salt for a water softner will cost around 6.50-7.50 and lasts 4-6 weeks.

Now I suppose residents could claim they should get water that isn't hard water, but then that limits the area's the water can be obtained from so this means you can't have everybody getting water from a non hard water area. Its just not workable.

In addition if you want the water treated before it reaches your home their are increased costs associated with this and potentially downsides depending on how its treated. No doubt you'll also have people unhappy with the treatment,

I have no doubt its safe to drink, its the cost of it that's the issue with some residents. The poster I replied to was making out that the reason people were protesting was because of the simple reason of it being a charge, its actually a lot more then that. It all just comes across as another lazy argument in favour of metering.

If Phil hogan won't pay his charges in Portugal for services he's not happy with then why should the people here be forced to pay three times for a service that falls under phils own reasoning?

kayaksurfbum

If people dont want water from the state then get your own. Sink a well in your garden, buy in the shop, harvast it from the sky, whatever.

I dont see the point in preventing contractors from doing their job.

er1983

Sully wrote: »

Lots of rumours been floating around over the last few months, the above isn't the only case of mistaken identity.

Why are a small selection in various areas that bothered if they install meters that they go to all the trouble of abusing both physically and verbally the people who are actually working and making a living? There still getting billed regardless of whether they have a meter or not and I somehow doubt if they get a bill there going to just sigh and pay up?

It's ignorant and thuggish, scummy behaviour the way workers are being treated for doing a job they are being paid to do so they can make a living and contribute to their local economy and the broader economy too. It's taken a court case to slap some protesters on the wrist.

Totally agree with everything you are saying there Sully, appalling the pictures & videos showing the way the workers are being treated, they are only being paid at the end of the day to do a job

thomasm

Sully wrote: »

Lots of rumours been floating around over the last few months, the above isn't the only case of mistaken identity.

Why are a small selection in various areas that bothered if they install meters that they go to all the trouble of abusing both physically and verbally the people who are actually working and making a living? There still getting billed regardless of whether they have a meter or not and I somehow doubt if they get a bill there going to just sigh and pay up?

It's ignorant and thuggish, scummy behaviour the way workers are being treated for doing a job they are being paid to do so they can make a living and contribute to their local economy and the broader economy too. It's taken a court case to slap some protesters on the wrist.

I have been to a number of meetings on this and the most emphasised point is to have a peaceful protest. Turn your back and do not listen to the provocation from Irish Water workers. You have obviously not heard the comments from IW employees. They are targeting the women in the hope of provoking the men who have NOT responded. Have you actually seen this "ignorant thuggish" behaviour from the residents. I doubt it but your still happy to write it like its a fact.

Your innuendo that the people protesting are unemployed and stopping people making a living is a low undignified comment not based on fact.

One of the reasons residents are protesting is because the water we have is crap. It has a massive concentration of lime in it. At 260ppm it’s greatly above the recommended EU level of 120ppm. However Ireland is one of the only countries not to sign up to the agreement to get supplies to the agreed level yet. It does not have to start work fixing this problem until Jan 2016.

I have had to pay €650 for a water softener to stop my shower, dishwasher, heating, washing machine and pipes getting destroyed. You then have circa €10-15 per month on salt to soften it, €120 per annum on water filters and €80 per annum service charge coming to a yearly total of €380. Now they want circa another €400. We pay for our water through taxes as it is. If I now start paying again who can argue that I'm not paying 3 times for some of the worst water in the country.

Furthermore the lime problem as per Irish Water’s press release on Wednesday is not their problem and one that the council have to address. Years of trying to get them to fix the problem has resulted in no action at all. So I have to now pay more to a company to supply crap water that they say won’t be there quality issue to solve.

What would you do ?

S.O

This video is up on youtube a few weeks, which shows with the way the water meters are being installed anyone can tamper with the water supply by the new access point after the meter being installed.

Hijpo

er1983 wrote: »

Totally agree with everything you are saying there Sully, appalling the pictures & videos showing the way the workers are being treated, they are only being paid at the end of the day to do a job

If you wanted to you could also view videos of the installers antagonising the residents who know they do not have to accept the meters.
The installers get paid there weekly wage whether the meters go in or not so no point putting on the poor mouth.

Cabaal

thomasm wrote: »

Have you actually seen this "ignorant thuggish" behaviour from the residents.

Not first hand, but they have been nice enough to record a sample for us all to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok9bkA8IiWg

Frankly the behavior from the people in this video towards the workers is bullying, plain and simple.

You wouldn't let children do it to other children in schools. Yet somehow these people think its acceptable to treat other adults in this manner?

They have every right to protest and I'm all for a peaceful protest, as I said they have their right. But stuff like this is harassment and thats something no worker in any industry should have to put up with.

if you worked in say a mobile phone shop and people came in and acted like that you'd expect them to be told to get out, if they refused you'd rightly expect the Gardai to be called. If I worked in a company and people did this to me I'd certainly want something done about it.,

I have had to pay €650 for a water softener to stop my shower, dishwasher, heating, washing machine and pipes getting destroyed. You then have circa €10-15 per month on salt to soften it, €120 per annum on water filters and €80 per annum service charge coming to a yearly total of €380.

You must have an awful lot of people in your home and/or your buying awful expensive salt for that softener. You can get a 25kg bag of salt for as low as 6.50e, though to be fair if you don't shop around you can pay as much as 10e a bag,

As for the water filters, I'm assuming you have filters for your untreated water? Or is this something your water softener actually requires in addition to the salt? Just curious really

I will say you did well on the water softener, mine cost me 950e back when i got it.

Furthermore the lime problem as per Irish Water’s press release on Wednesday is not their problem and one that the council have to address. Years of trying to get them to fix the problem has resulted in no action at all. So I have to now pay more to a company to supply crap water that they say won’t be there quality issue to solve.

What would you do ?

err, protest outside the council offices maybe?

If it is actually councils problem then protesting and stopping Irish Water workers is unlikely to do anything.

Hijpo

Cabaal wrote: »

Not first hand, but they have been nice enough to record a sample for us all to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok9bkA8IiWg

Frankly the behavior from the people in this video towards the workers is bullying, plain and simple.

Why are you posting a video from dublin in a thread about ferrybank?

Thats pretty low and very silly.

Cabaal

Hijpo wrote: »

Why are you posting a video from dublin in a thread about ferrybank?

Thats pretty low.

I'm merely giving an example of what Irish Water Workers have had to put up with, when you consider this you can't really blame them for going on the defensive when a protest starts up beside them.

Sure its a job, but as I said nobody should have to fear abuse like that.

I never suggested it was recorded in Waterford and its clear as day that it wasn't in Waterford based on the Dublin accents.
:rolleyes:

S.O

kayaksurfbum wrote: »

If people dont want water from the state then get your own. Sink a well in your garden, buy in the shop, harvast it from the sky, whatever.

I dont see the point in preventing contractors from doing their job.

People aren,t getting water for free, currently taxpayers are paying 1.2 billion towards providing water.

Hijpo

Cabaal wrote: »

I'm merely giving an example of what Irish Water Workers have had to put up with, when you consider this you can't really blame them for going on the defensive when a protest starts up beside them.

Sure its a job, but as I said nobody should have to fear abuse like that.

I never suggested it was recorded in Waterford and its clear as day that it wasn't in Waterford based on the Dublin accents.
:rolleyes:

What are you using the rolleye emoticon?

Your the one posted a video of something that happend in dublin in a post about ferrybank to bolster an argument that the IW in ferrybank are being bullied. You didnt have to suggest it, its placement is enough.

Now, in an other video thats actually from ferrybank you can see an IW installer blatently blowing smoke from his cigarette into the face of a peaceful protester standing beside him, obviously trying to provoke a reaction. One that he did not get.

thomasm

Cabaal wrote: »

Not first hand, but they have been nice enough to record a sample for us all to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok9bkA8IiWg

Frankly the behavior from the people in this video towards the workers is bullying, plain and simple.

You wouldn't let children do it to other children in schools. Yet somehow these people think its acceptable to treat other adults in this manner?

They have every right to protest and I'm all for a peaceful protest, as I said they have their right. But stuff like this is harassment and thats something no worker in any industry should have to put up with.

if you worked in say a mobile phone shop and people came in and acted like that you'd expect them to be told to get out, if they refused you'd rightly expect the Gardai to be called. If I worked in a company and people did this to me I'd certainly want something done about it.,




You must have an awful lot of people in your home and/or your buying awful expensive salt for that softener. You can get a 25kg bag of salt for as low as 6.50e, though to be fair if you don't shop around you can pay as much as 10e a bag,

As for the water filters, I'm assuming you have filters for your untreated water? Or is this something your water softener actually requires in addition to the salt? Just curious really

I will say you did well on the water softener, mine cost me 950e back when i got it.




err, protest outside the council offices maybe?

If it is actually councils problem then protesting and stopping Irish Water workers is unlikely to do anything.

We are talking about Ferrybank, not Dublin.

Have 3 kids and a decent amount of usage, that's how much I pay and I have no idea about how much salt various softeners use above another so not sure if we are comparing like with like.

There has been numerous meetings and discussions with councils and politicians on this issue. It's KK county council and their answer has always been its safe to drink and that's all that matters. They don't care about the lime and have acknowledged the issues it causes with appliances but say it's up to residents to get a softener. This attitude will change only in 2016 when legislation changes and they can't hide behind it anymore

er1983

Hijpo wrote: »

If you wanted to you could also view videos of the installers antagonising the residents who know they do not have to accept the meters.
The installers get paid there weekly wage whether the meters go in or not so no point putting on the poor mouth.

I am merely stating that they get paid to their job just like anyone else. They shouldn't have to put up with the abuse just like any other worker out there trying to make a living which is very hard to do in these times. If people have a problem with the charges then go protest to the people who set up Irish Water and not the ordinary workers.

wmpdd3

I was there yesterday and Tuesday, it was extremely peaceful. I saluted Sierra on the way in and out without issue.

I am furious at this black hole for money being set up at a time when there are 'no' funds available for vital services. I am furious at the special powers this 'company' will have. It is not just another utility.

The vast majority of meters are to be installed adjacent to homes with a smaller amount on homeowners' properties.



The company charged with collecting fees for water from more than 1.3 million households will have sweeping powers to collect information about households from the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Social Protection and other state agencies.



Details of how Irish Water will operate emerged last night in the Water Services Bill 2013.



The bill is expected to go through the Houses of the Oireachtas within three months, allowing it to begin charging for water from January next year.



The publication of the bill comes after the Irish Independent yesterday revealed that homeowners face average bills of €370 a year.



The Government plans to collect €500m a year from households, which will be used to meet the cost of providing water.



However, there is concern that the new company will not be covered under the Freedom of Information Act, which was sharply criticised by Fianna Fail last night.



FF spokesman on Public Expenditure and Reform Sean Fleming said it was a "glaring omission that must be addressed".



"The public have a right to know how this company will operate, the costs it will incur and the charges and rationale for the charging scheme it will be levelling on the public. For this to be guaranteed, Irish Water must come under the remit of Freedom of Information," he said.



The Water Services Bill also removes the ban on charging for domestic water and says that charges will not be introduced before January 1 next year.



Other provisions include:



* Irish Water will be established as a subsidiary of Bord Gais. One share will be held by Bord Gais, and the remaining shares split between the Minister for the Environment and Minister for Finance.



* It will be responsible for installing meters, and can prosecute households that refuse to allow access to property or fail to provide information.



* It can also install pipes, without seeking planning permission and interrupt a water supply.



* It can borrow up to €500m.



* The Commission for Energy Regulation will set the prices, and advise on policy.



The bill will be published today.

- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/owners-who-block-water-meters-face-penalties-of-up-to-5000-28956917.html#sthash.kSmM1Wew.dpuf

All of the promises made about fixing leaks / having an allowance for illness' etc have failed to materialise. Its only a matter of time before the company is sold to bolster state funds and the floodgates will open.

There are 3 months left for politicians to veto this bill and I hope that is what will happen.

Hijpo

er1983 wrote: »

I am merely stating that they get paid to their job just like anyone else. They shouldn't have to put up with the abuse just like any other worker out there trying to make a living which is very hard to do in these times. If people have a problem with the charges then go protest to the people who set up Irish Water and not the ordinary workers.

No one said its OK to insult people doing the work. however sullys post, which you agree fully with, only told of how the workers are being treated with complete disregard of how IW are treating the residents