***ALL THINGS IRISH WATER/WATER CHARGE RELATED POST HERE***

Larbre34

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

But there will be no rival or similar firm. Who will they be making a comparison with?

Other network utilities, ESB, Eircom, the rest of Ervia

end of the road

twowheelsgood wrote: »

So why wasn't / isn't the ESB sold off?

because our boys in the ESB are the best in their field in the world and are world class, world respected, helping companies from other countries out in times of need, and the rest.

But all the other utilities now have competitors for the same service so I can understand bonuses awarded based on retaining a customer base. Water will have no competition so cannot claim to be like the other utilities.

Larbre34

A big part of the current Government backtracking is their suggestion that they will extend flat rate charging for water , perhaps for many years.

If this is the case, I would like to know how they plan to adhere to one of their stated aims, i.e, conservation? I would also like to know how they would respond to the natural follow on question, who will be responsible for the several hundred millions of wasted euros in installing meters which will be idle in the ground if flat charging persists.

Because in my opinion, the people whose decisions waste more good money after bad, on that scale and at a time the country remains in hock, should be arrested and charged with treason.

gladrags

end of the road wrote: »

because our boys in the ESB are the best in their field in the world and are world class, world respected, helping companies from other countries out in times of need, and the rest.

And the customers might not be too happy.

steamengine

Larbre34 wrote: »

A big part of the current Government backtracking is their suggestion that they will extend flat rate charging for water , perhaps for many years.

If this is the case, I would like to know how they plan to adhere to one of their stated aims, i.e, conservation? I would also like to know how they would respond to the natural follow on question, who will be responsible for the several hundred millions of wasted euros in installing meters which will be idle in the ground if flat charging persists.

Because in my opinion, the people whose decisions waste more good money after bad, on that scale and at a time the country remains in hock, should be arrested and charged with treason.

There seems to be plenty of benevolent punters on this thread all too willing to make up any shortfall brought about by the incompetence of the government & co. The worst punishment dished out so far was community service. Only those who protest against this water farce are likely to go to jail - looks like at golden, silver and bronze circle orbits everyone is immune.

realdanbreen

deco nate wrote: »

Grow up!

Edit :care to add to the debate or are you just here to try to belittle me? Seeing as I have not seen a post by you?
Yea, that's what I thought....

You have said that one of your problems with IW is that they 'have a gym + mod cons'. My concern is that its going to cost me because of the actions of people who protest over that.

cajonlardo

realdanbreen wrote: »

You have said that one of your problems with IW is that they 'have a gym + mod cons'. My concern is that its going to cost me because of the actions of people who protest over that.

Dan Breen wants his name back

Plates

steamengine wrote: »

There seems to be plenty of benevolent punters on this thread all too willing to make up any shortfall brought about by the incompetence of the government & co. The worst punishment dished out so far was community service. Only those who protest against this water farce are likely to go to jail - looks like at golden, silver and bronze circle orbits everyone is immune.

More victim mentality. Lots of finger pointing and blaming but no alternative solutions proposed. Should we just start planting money trees or just cover our eyes and ears and hope the problem will just go away?

Ghost Buster

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Most political observers reject the claim by the protestors that IW will be sold off. They say it is a lie.

Yeah, the wording is along the lines of 'Irish Water cannot be sold off. ...unless the minister wants to'

Road-Hog

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Yeah, the wording is along the lines of 'Irish Water cannot be sold off. ...unless the minister wants to'

Until IW establish a steady and consistent revenue stream of sufficient size and can show that it is cutting its costs and is 'lean and efficient' it will be hard to see how attractive a company it might be to a group of 'vulture capitalists' such as hedge funds, pension funds or our very own denis o Brien whom a lot of people think already owns Irish water (refer to the myriad of Facebook anti water pages). Akso it needs to be borne in mind that IW has roughly 500 core employees spread out around the country and also has another 3,500 or so Local authority staff whom it pays under a 'service level agreement' for the next 12 years another item that might deter a sell off. Also I think it would be political suicide for whatever government party/coalition that would enact the required legislation for IW to be sold off

Gentleman Off The Pitch

end of the road wrote: »

because our boys in the ESB are the best in their field in the world and are world class, world respected, helping companies from other countries out in times of need, and the rest.

Can you give some evidence/examples illustrating how 'our boys' are the best in the world?

listermint

Road-Hog wrote: »

Until IW establish a steady and consistent revenue stream of sufficient size and can show that it is cutting its costs and is 'lean and efficient' it will be hard to see how attractive a company it might be to a group of 'vulture capitalists' such as hedge funds, pension funds or our very own denis o Brien whom a lot of people think already owns Irish water (refer to the myriad of Facebook anti water pages). Akso it needs to be borne in mind that IW has roughly 500 core employees spread out around the country and also has another 3,500 or so Local authority staff whom it pays under a 'service level agreement' for the next 12 years another item that might deter a sell off

There has never and will never be a problem finding a buyer for a countries water infrastructure particularly not in a country like Ireland were rainfall is plentiful.

There would be very little if any efficiencies or years of doing anything at all for a fund to come in and want to buy it.

The nonsense that a government would have to do anything at all to sell it off is just that nonsense.

No fund in its right mind would overlook an opportunity to snatch up a food security especially one with a monopoly.

Where did you dream up your post from?

listermint

realdanbreen wrote: »

You have said that one of your problems with IW is that they 'have a gym + mod cons'. My concern is that its going to cost me because of the actions of people who protest over that.

It's costing you right now. If your were foolish enough to sign up.


The mind boggles

Guy:Incognito

listermint wrote: »

It's costing you right now. If your were foolish enough to sign up.


The mind boggles

Well so far the only answer to why its bad that they have a gym is that their age demographic among their staff is old.

realdanbreen

listermint wrote: »

It's costing you right now. If your were foolish enough to sign up.


The mind boggles

Sweet jesus. Not another 'sure tis always raining in ireland' solution.

Highflyer13

Banjo String wrote: »

When RTE are on your case........

You're bolloxed.

True. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of coverage they gave the protests and the vox pops yesterday in comparison to the Oct 11th march.

listermint

realdanbreen wrote: »

Sweet jesus. Not another 'sure tis always raining in ireland' solution.

Where did I say that Dan. Because I didn't congratulations on r more nonsense

steamengine

Plates wrote: »

More victim mentality. Lots of finger pointing and blaming but no alternative solutions proposed. Should we just start planting money trees or just cover our eyes and ears and hope the problem will just go away?

OK - keep stumping up, gov & co know where the weak spots are now. Plenty has been written and spoken about the possibility of debt write down for example, but sure why bother when the electorate is so willing to be shafted over and over again.

Road-Hog

listermint wrote: »

There has never and will never be a problem finding a buyer for a countries water infrastructure particularly not in a country like Ireland were rainfall is plentiful.

There would be very little if any efficiencies or years of doing anything at all for a fund to come in and want to buy it.

The nonsense that a government would have to do anything at all to sell it off is just that nonsense.

No fund in its right mind would overlook an opportunity to snatch up a food security especially one with a monopoly.

Where did you dream up your post from?

I bow to your superior (arrogant even) opinion.......Union infested organisations with huge pension responsibilities might not be that attractive either

Going Forward

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

And our taxes are being reduced. Water should be paid for by all, like all utilities....and not fall overwhelmingly on the shoulder of the PAYE worker.

The plan is for full cost recovery, so approximately €1bn for domestic water services is set to be paid for through metered usage. Average unmolested household cost of around €555.

The political will doesn't exist to impose this sort of bill, certainly not during the registration period, as we have seen.

As long as welfare recipients receive concessions or support for water charges, the PAYE tax payer will always pay significantly more for the water they use.

It doesn't take much imagination to see how this is going to pan out.

The talk of broadening the tax base is just talk unless the concessions are scrapped, and the LPT is the same.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

papu

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Well so far the only answer to why its bad that they have a gym is that their age demographic among their staff is old.

Are people just jealous of this Gym? To me it makes sense , healthy workers are more productive ,less prone to getting sick. if there's a gym in work they'll look forward to going into work . Exercising improves the overall well being of the worker.

I have a gym in work and It's great. It's an investment in the future.
And even more important for older people to keep active!

My name is URL

papu wrote: »

Are people just jealous of this Gym? To me it makes sense , healthy workers are more productive ,less prone to getting sick. if there's a gym in work they'll look forward to going into work . Exercising improves the overall well being of the worker.

I have a gym in work and It's great. It's an investment in the future.
And even more important for older people to keep active!

There's a gym in the Dail too and it's never used :rolleyes:

Also, the IW gym is in the Dublin HQ. The vast majority of IW employees are based outside of Dublin

Why not subsidies gym membership for all employees rather than providing a gym for a minority of workers, if they were serious about limiting absenteeism and promoting good health?

Jealous of the gym? Would you ever catch a grip of yourself.. pointing out wastage and inefficiency isn't jealousy and only an idiot would say otherwise.

cajonlardo

papu wrote: »

Are people just jealous of this Gym? To me it makes sense , healthy workers are more productive ,less prone to getting sick. if there's a gym in work they'll look forward to going into work . Exercising improves the overall well being of the worker.

I have a gym in work and It's great. It's an investment in the future.
And even more important for older people to keep active!

We paid for a gym in the dail.

Productivity and attendance did not improve.

EDIT.
People had to cancel the gym memberships they were paying out of their own honest earned cash.
People had to cancel their Health cover
People had to cancel extra curricular activities for their kids
People have no holidays
People have to forgo repairs to their cars and homes

And this self entitled Government crony riddled company thought it wise to give themselves a free gym?

(If my company pays for my gym membership I have to pay benefit in kind. )

Its not really about the gym itself, that is just another example of how they are getting on our tits. But don't worry about it. It won't be for much longer.

Lucy and Harry

There is a bar in the Dail that is always used.Far more than the Gym.Strange that.


But hay we are getting side tracked lets attack each other and be divided when we should be uniting the clans and fighting the leaders and IMF.


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c301/Huntington123/fotoflexer_photo-343.jpg?t=1358410838

gladrags

papu wrote: »

Are people just jealous of this Gym? To me it makes sense , healthy workers are more productive ,less prone to getting sick. if there's a gym in work they'll look forward to going into work . Exercising improves the overall well being of the worker.

I have a gym in work and It's great. It's an investment in the future.
And even more important for older people to keep active!

Going on protest march's keeps you fit,and costs nothing

papu

gladrags wrote: »

Going on protest march's keeps you fit,and costs nothing

*Once a month :rolleyes:

gladrags

gladrags wrote: »

Going on protest march's keeps you fit,and costs nothing

Walking the dog in good clean country air, priceless.

gladrags

Highflyer13 wrote: »

True. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of coverage they gave the protests and the vox pops yesterday in comparison to the Oct 11th march.

The sindo on sunday is also giving it a lot of coverage,funnily enough.

Harris today was trying to claim he predicted all the fuss with IW.

Strange,usually they are condeming anything remotely left.

end of the road

Road-Hog wrote: »

Until IW establish a steady and consistent revenue stream of sufficient size and can show that it is cutting its costs and is 'lean and efficient' it will be hard to see how attractive a company it might be to a group of 'vulture capitalists' such as hedge funds, pension funds or our very own denis o Brien whom a lot of people think already owns Irish water (refer to the myriad of Facebook anti water pages). Akso it needs to be borne in mind that IW has roughly 500 core employees spread out around the country and also has another 3,500 or so Local authority staff whom it pays under a 'service level agreement' for the next 12 years another item that might deter a sell off. Also I think it would be political suicide for whatever government party/coalition that would enact the required legislation for IW to be sold off

its hard to know. thatcher sold off almost everything and got reelected, even though the costs of doing so were crippling to the customer. prices go only one way up and up, with the companies either being private monopolies or cosy cartels