Tuesday 26 January, 2021
Phil Hogan came to the “reluctant conclusion” yesterday that he should step down from his senior EU job.
Plus: The rent rise that some pensioners living in south Dublin council houses will be hit with next year.
The results are based on an opinion poll carried out by Amarách Research for RTÉ’s Claire Byrne Live/TheJournal.ie.
A new book by journalist Michael Brennan delves into the water charges debacle. Here are some of the moments that still stick out.
Irish Water in its proposals said it was recommending a range of measures in a bid to reduce household water usage.
Minister Eoghan Murphy has said a referendum on the topic could be held as early as next year.
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said wording for the referendum should be ready in the autumn.
This week, the Cabinet approved the introduction of excessive charges for households.
The aim would be to retain public ownership of any company charged with responsibility for the supply of water services
A report on the issue will be launched today at a conference called How (Not) To Do Public Policy.
Trade groups believe a European proposal will unfairly burden businesses.
€177 million was provided to Irish Water last year to refund to some 995,000 domestic customers, that included €5 million in administration costs.
Dylan Collins has been remanded on bail until January.
Refunds totalling €173 million will be paid to 990,000 customers.
Three of Ireland’s leading homelessness charities have called on the public to donate their refunds.
The first charge will be levied in July 2019.
Water usage will be monitored from 2018, with bills arriving in 2019 for those that waste water.
The former Secretary General of the Department of Finance said the focus should shift from tax cuts to reducing the cost of living.
The government must decide how best to repay people and avoid another PR disaster.
Paschal Donohoe has identified an under-spend across all departments of €300 million.
FINALLY. Talk about water charges might be coming to an end as the government figure out how to give the cash back.
It is estimated that the refunds will cost in the region of €160 million.
Officials are in negotiations with the EU for a special deal to pay around €160 million in water charge refunds.
Cabinet agreed to give priority to the drafting of the Water Services Bill 2017 today.
It’s day 22 of the trial.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men are charged with falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her advisor.
Marion Power said there was “constant abuse and horrendous language the whole time”.
“You were being pushed around. You couldn’t stand still. I was being punched continually.”
Garda Gavin Cooke has denied the claim.
Seven men are accused of falsely imprisoning the former Tánaiste during a water charges protest in 2014.
And how many households fall into the “excessive use” category of 1.7 times the average?
Seven men including TD Paul Murphy have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment.
New figures from the CSO show that usage of water in Ireland is heavily skewed by a small fraction of consumers.
Over 100 potential jurors were called in a random ballot and a jury of five women and seven men were selected.
Ivan Yates said that people see Hogan as the “bogeyman of Irish Water” in a radio interview today.
Politicians are having their say on the water committee report tonight.
The Dáil is set to debate water charges today.
Finally, after 22 meetings, the water committee has approved its final report.
The water committee has gotten fresh legal advice on the final report.
It’s reported that staff receive perks such as car allowances and fitness instructors as well as health insurance packages for executives and their spouses.
