Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

Today is United Nations World Water Day, which promotes water services as a fundamental human right. The theme of the day this year is accelerating change. The Taoiseach recently stated on RTÉ that the right to housing referendum would most likely not be taking place this November along with the referendum on gender equality. He said that the Housing Commission has not yet produced the wording. The Government previously stated that the referendum on public water would take place with the housing referendum, yet the Taoiseach made no mention of it. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, informed me by letter last November that we would see the wording of the referendum on public water in early 2023. We are now at the end of March and going into the second quarter of the year. Water services workers are outside the gates of Leinster House today, demanding a referendum, the wording thereof and the date on which it will be held. I have had legislation providing for a public water referendum before the House, with cross-party support, for seven years but have received no replies to questions on when the Bill will progress. I sent a letter to the committee on 7 March but I have not received a response. Is the Taoiseach committed to having a referendum on the public ownership and management of water? If so, when? Will he make sure it happens in November?

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