The furore surrounding Irish Water will not be resolved by the Government removing the company's senior management and board from their roles, Fianna Fáil has said.
Speaking ahead of a Dáil debate on a Fianna Fáil Private Members Motion on Irish Water today, Barry Cowen said the public would not buy change at the top of Irish Water as a means of ending the controversy that has built up around the semi-State firm.
Mr Cowen, the party’s environment spokesman, said the water charges should be suspended pending a review of the role and performance of Irish Water.
He said people in Government circles appeared to think the Irish Water debacle could be resolved by throwing managing director John Tierney, his management and board "under the bus".
“I won’t buy it, the people won’t buy it,” he said.
Mr Tierney faces a crucial board meeting today as his position with the new semi-State company comes under increasing pressure.The Cabinet was also expected to discuss ongoing controversies around the company today. Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said this morning he is not aware of any plans to alter the senior management team at Irish Water.
Asked if he thought Mr Tierney’s position should be in peril, Mr Cowen said that after a review his moving on could be part of the solution but it is not part of the solution today.
“John Tierney and his board are dancing to the tune of this Government,” he added.
He said Fianna Fáil wanted to have “an honest and fundamental debate” about the company but that it was too late given the Government did not allow the Dáil to debate the legislation setting up Irish Water some 18 months ago.
The party's motion calls for a review of the Irish Water funding model, for it to provide greater accountability to the Oireachtas, a commitment that it or any vehicle used as a charging mechanism will not be privatised in the future and for the establishment of an ability to pay clause.
Mr Cowen said the Oireachtas, the public and even Cabinet members were ignored "by virtue of the manner in which the [rish Water] funding model was put in place" by the Economic Management Council - which involved Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the then tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin.
He said Fine Gael and Labour TDs were "lobby fodder" when they voted on the Irish Water legislation last year but were now starting to ask questions.
“The thrust was always a rush to charge and get these charges in fast and quick and get a tough minister to establish it,” he said.
“Get a minister who had an incentive, who had a carrot. The tough minister of course was [Phil] Hogan and the carrot and incentive was Brussels and what’s left behind has to be cleaned up.”
