Irish Water's ambitions for the future of public supply will never be quashed despite criticism of the utility, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
In a speech on the history and future of investment in State infrastructure and companies, Mr Varadkar said Irish Water had so far reduced the number of people on supply networks requiring remedial action by 200,000.
It had removed 20,000 people from long-term “boil water” notices, he said.
The Taoiseach was speaking at a dinner marking the 90th anniversary of the ESB on Wednesday night, an entity he compared to Irish Water as both had emerged from a compilation of smaller organisations.
“Despite the criticisms, Irish Water has an ambitious plan for what our public water system should look like by 2021, and it is already delivering on that vision. I don’t believe it will ever be abolished,” he told the event at the National Gallery in Dublin.
Beset with controversy
The creation and operation of Irish Water was beset with controversy and shadowed by numerous demonstrations. The payment regime ultimately collapsed and, following the publication of the Water Services Bill in the Seanad this month, refunds amounting to about €173 million will be paid.
While the birth of Irish Water proved tumultuous, Mr Varadkar used Wednesday’s dinner to laud the record of State investment and services.
Almost a century ago, the creation of the ESB and the construction of the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station held deep psychological significance for the country, he said.
We are also determined to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with our EU targets
"It was called at the time 'an act of faith and hope in the country', an assertion that Ireland could do great things on her own, that independence meant something real and tangible."
Other entities would follow, the Taoiseach said, the agricultural and industrial credit corporations, Aer Lingus and Bord na Móna among them.
Solar power
Today, the Taoiseach said, the ESB is at the centre of Ireland’s efforts to pursue clean energy, successfully removing oil from its portfolio, creating a “first class” national electric vehicle-charging infrastructure and investing in solar power.
“The Government wants to see 40 per cent of our electricity come from renewable resources by 2020,” he said.
“We are also determined to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with our EU targets, and our long-term national transition objective, which seeks deep decarbonisation of our economy by 2050.”
Outlining a future vision, Mr Varadkar said the next 20 years would see renewable energy and smart grids change the world as the internet and mobile phones had.
“We intend to be at the forefront of these changes,” he said.
