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.
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..
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.
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,
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
thomasm wrote: » Have you actually seen this "ignorant thuggish" behaviour from the residents.
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.
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 ?
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.
Hijpo wrote: » Why are you posting a video from dublin in a thread about ferrybank? Thats pretty low.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
BuffyBot wrote: » One wonders how many utility companies people making these criticisms have set up from scratch before. I'll go out on a limb and guess none. It's a colossal undertaking..and whether pro or anti water charges, I don't think people realise that getting as much as they have done, in the time frame they've done it is actually impressive from a logistical point of view.
shinzon wrote: » 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 wrote: » 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?
Hijpo wrote: » 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.
thomasm wrote: » 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 ?
Sully wrote: » Not first hand but there are numerous videos and recordings floating around from the protesters - not Irish Water - showing their level of a 'peaceful' protest. Pulling down barriers, obstructing vehicles, robbing equipment (as was done in Ferrybank), shouting abuse, being intimidated and so on so forth. Hence why this was before the High Court in recent days. That's why the Gardai are on sight, not for the craic like. .
Sully wrote: » Not first hand but there are numerous videos and recordings floating around from the protesters - not Irish Water - showing their level of a 'peaceful' protest. Pulling down barriers, obstructing vehicles, robbing equipment (as was done in Ferrybank), shouting abuse, being intimidated and so on so forth. Hence why this was before the High Court in recent days. That's why the Gardai are on sight, not for the craic like. Now I have no doubt that some Irish Water works are far from peaceful themselves, but I take it there just fed up and retaliating seeing as the hassle and abuse they get for just doing their jobs. Not condoning it by any means. It's fact when there are NUMEROUS videos online and a High Court proceeding against a number of protesters. Nobody is making it up - there is hard facts straight in front of us. Not what I was implying at all, you chose to pick it up that way. Well I wouldn't be happy paying for it, so I would probably refuse to pay. But I wouldn't go out and protest. Like in many parts of the country eircom broadband is crap, but you don't see people roaring and abusing the technicians working on the lines or coming to your house to see if they can fix it. But people still pay full price for ****e BB - same price as if you were getting the royals royce of BB.
Hijpo wrote: » The people do not want to be metered and charged for water.
Digital Society wrote: » Oh really? And these people would be who exactly? Am i and the majority of people involved in this thread not part of that little group you have made up?
Hijpo wrote: » The people that are protesting? Maybe? What little group have I made up? Can you explain what offendes you in my post please because I'm detecting some hostility there. If you think I'm putting you in the thuggish group I'm not, whatever it takes for people that don't want meters in they will do it. Whether it be stopping them unloading a digger or sitting on the stopcock cover.
