Irish Water charges and data breach
Senator O’Brien criticises water charges, Irish Water’s establishment and reported disclosure of customers’ bank details, and seeks the Environment Minister’s attendance; the Chair ends his contribution.
Colleagues may remember a very worthy fund-raising campaign that was all over Facebook during the summer, namely, the ice bucket challenge, in which thousands of people participated. Last night I noted that a new campaign has started on Facebook which probably marks the beginning of the end of water charges. People are now nominating each other to burn their Irish Water packs. That campaign started last night.
Comment on this
No, on Facebook. Fewer than 500,000 people have submitted their information. News of major data protection breaches by Irish Water was verified last night. Ten cases involving individuals' personal bank details being sent to third parties have gone to the Data Protection Commissioner. The reason for all of this is because the Government tried to set up a utility without allowing enough time to do it or providing proper free allowances. It is not being done on the basis of conservation; it is basically a tax. Yesterday I called for the complete suspension of charges and a return to the drawing board. I still believe the Government will do that because, from what I saw last night, this regime under the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Irish Water is dead in the water.
Comment on this
The Senator wanted to introduce it in 2012.
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The Government has to realise it is not going to get its way. Instead of blaming executives and staff in Irish Water, it should take responsibility for the cack-handed way in which it tried to establish the company over the advice of independent consultants. As Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell called for yesterday, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government needs to come into the House. I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business that he come into the House today to address the matter specifically. He should suspend water charges at this stage and address the difficulties. I am formally proposing that amendment.
I thank the Deputy Leader for facilitating a discussion on the facts that are emerging on how Sinn Féin and the IRA dealt with serious child sex abuse and rape through their own private courts and army. I fully accept what Senator Ivana Bacik said about having a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs at the appropriate time. However, one aspect of the matter has not been considered. Have Sinn Féin and the IRA submitted lists of the people they sent away from their own communities?
