The people should have voting shares in Irish Water

The voting shares in Irish Water should  be handed over to the people of Ireland, Clare TD, Michael McNamara has said.

Speaking in the Dáil the Labour TD argued that the deciding shares in the future of the company should belong to its customers, therefore guaranteeing its public ownership.

“No matter what we do here today, is subject to statute and future Government can change a statute, but if the Minister really wants to make it harder [to privatise Irish Water] then I would suggest that the shareholding held by Ervia be transferred at a given time,” he said.

Deputy McNamara suggested handing the shares over to a “consumer co-operative” made up of all the customers of Irish Water.

“They are the people that will be most affected by the privatisation, or not, of Irish Water and they are the ones that should control it,” he said.

Deputy McNamara also questioned the necessity of increasing the number on the board of Irish Water parent’s company, Ervia. The board membership increased from six to eight when Bord Gáis became Ervia. It is now proposed to increase the membership yet again by two.