There have been updated calls on the new government to hold a referendum on public ownership of Uisce Éireann.

The move would protect the service from potential attempts to privatise it in the future.

The previous Government had promised a referendum on the issue when it was included in the Programme for Government in July 2020.

This promise came after the 2014-2016 protests against proposed water charges, which were never implemented following the public outcry.

SIPTU spokesperson Brendan O’Brien told Newstalk Breakfast that holding a referendum was ‘the right thing to do’.

“Minister Darragh O'Brien and his cabinet coalition partners committed to doing so during the recent water framework discussions that we were involved with,” he said.

“The public clearly don’t want water left in a situation where it could be privatised and commodified and sold to the public for profit.

“The only way that we can guarantee that won’t happen in the future is by having our public water services enshrined in the Constitution.

“That’s why we’re renewing our call on the government to make sure that they follow through on that promise.”

Woman filling a glass of water from the kitchen sink tap. Image: incamerastock / Alamy

However, Trinity economics professor John Fitzgerald said this proposal was ‘completely mad’.

“Nobody in the country is suggesting that water should be privatised,” he said.

“I don’t think even the Progressive Democrats party in their heyday 35 years ago suggested it.

“Across Europe – with the exception of England, and I stress England because [the rest of the UK] was more sensible - nobody privatises water.

“So, to ask the people of Ireland to go out and vote in the cold and the rain and the snow to stop something happening that is never going to happen, and nobody suggests happens, would be lunacy.”

Precedent

Mr O’Brien fired back that there was plenty of precedent here in Ireland for such a move.

“John will be around long enough to remember in terms of the potential for the selling of State companies and State assets back in the recession years,” he said.

“One of the first things the Troika looked to do when they arrived was to sell State assets and get the Government to sell State assets to generate revenue.

“So, we’ve been down this road, and we’ve seen the risks that are there – to suggest that it’s lunacy, frankly, is lunacy itself.”

Mr O’Brien said we should not have to rely on the Government’s promise not to privatise water ownership when they had already promised a referendum.

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Featured image: Metal faucet, plumbing and basin in house. Image: Yuri Arcurs / Alamy Stock Photo