Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Tierney subsequently revealed to the Committee of Public Accounts that Irish Water staff had received bonuses of up to 10% of their salaries. Last weekend, it was revealed that some staff would qualify for bonuses of up to 19% of their salaries. The former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, is safely in Europe. It is clear that he was aware of all this while he was Minister, although he has denied it. Although I and others said in the House that many citizens were deeply disturbed when Irish Water demanded their PPS numbers, the Government would not listen. It knocked back any suggestion from us or any concern that we raised. Last month, it was reported that Irish Water had sent 6,239 letters bearing incorrect names to customers. Ironically, the letters asked customers to confirm their personal details, but these had gone to the wrong addresses, in a very serious breach of data protection provisions. Yesterday, another breach of data protection provisions emerged. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has confirmed ten cases in which the bank details of Irish Water customers were sent to their landlords by mistake. Again, the Government would not listen.

The Taoiseach should not expect the citizens out there to thank him for climbing down on this PPS issue.

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