Barry Cowen: “Government’s Inept Handling Of Irish Water Adds Confusion To Today's Deadline”

By Justin Kelly

Laois/Offaly TD and Fianna Fail Spokesperson for the Environment Barry Cowen has slammed the Government parties for adding confusion to the Irish Water deadline after Labour Party Senator Lorraine Higgins said people would be penalised if they failed to register by tonight’s midnight deadline.

Irish Water had to issue a clarification following the comments, and spokesperson Elizabeth Arnett has said that although there are no penalties for failing to register, it will be assumed that you live in a two-adult household, leaving unregistered homes to face a standard charge of €260 after tonight’s deadline. Arnett also said those failing to register will not be in a position to apply for the Department of Social Protection’s  €100 Water Conservation Grant, although the deadline for that is still some way down the line.

Deputy Cowen has hit out at the “Government’s continued ineptitude in dealing with the Irish Water controversy,” saying that “the public’s confidence in this quango has now been further undermined as a result of a Government representative’s inability to clearly understand or explain the registration process.” He said despite the clarification of Senator Higgins’ comments, “there is still a large degree of uncertainty about the workings of Irish Water, and how the Water Conservation Grant will be allocated.”

“Despite attempts by Irish Water to clarify the situation regarding registration, the Government’s botched handling of the situation has led to a distrust among the Irish people, with a large proportion of the population still to register. These concerns will not have been helped by this morning’s performance by the Government representative on the issue, and raises questions about whether the Government itself fully understands the registration and funding mechanisms,” Cowen said in a statement on the debacle.

Over 600,000 homes have still not lodged their details with Irish Water, and after the deadline passes tonight, 1.5 million homes will receive their first bills for the new utility in April. Irish Water has said it will continue to accept confirmation of details from people wishing to register after tonight’s deadline.

Protests against the implementation of water charges took place in both Tullamore and Edenderry on Saturday, coinciding with a national protest which took place in Dublin. Laois/Offaly TD for Sinn Fein Brian Stanley has said recently that he reiterates his standpoint on the issue, confirming that he has no intention of paying the charge.