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28th October 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 39 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200
Pictured at the Holywell Educate Together National School's Big Breakfast morning at the school last week are pupils, Abigail Mooney, Hailie Nwaogu and Hayden Nwaogu
‘Go Now’
‘Don’t Wait Until January’ Farrell Calls For Irish Water Board To Go
As the controversy over Irish Water rumbles on, local TD, Alan Farrell (FG) has thrown his hat into the ring, by demanding the resignation of the Board of the company Speaking to the County Leader, Farrell said, “My action in calling for the resignation of the entire Board, has been borne out of frustration regarding the whole Irish Water issue. I’m particularly frustrated with the way management of Irish Water have handled communication problems, where there have been many mistakes. There has been a distinct lack of confidence, having failed to be upfront with people, particularly about performance related pay. Irish Water are not solely to blame, political failures have also been to blame.”
Failure to communicate has been the primary problem associated with the company, according to Farrell, as well as the time taken to relay information to the public. “In 2011, we knew that charges were coming on line, and I want to know
But, Farrell Has Confidence In Tierney why it has taken three-and-a-half years to find out how apartments would be metered, for instance. We have saved hundreds of
By Patrick Finnegan
millions of euro for the exchequer in establishing Irish Water. “How can people be expected to have confidence in Irish Water, given that they have failed to be upfront with people about performance related pay. At the end of the day they should call a bonus a ‘bonus’,” he said. In calling for the resignation of the Board now, whom he says are to be stood down in January, Farrell believes that Chief Executive, John Tierney should be allowed to continue in his role. “I know John Tierney from his days as manager of Fingal County Council, where I served as a councillor. I am familiar with his ability, and firing him is not the solution to the problem,” he said.
Little Molly’s Family Says Thanks Mary and Seamie McNally, the grandparents of Little Molly McNally, the six year old Balbriggan girl, who is suffering from Neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, would like to thank the everyone for their very generous support. They played a key role in making their recent Fundraiser Table Quiz Night such a huge success. They wish to express their thanks to many people and organisations, including Naul Senior Citizens Committee for their willingness to support their cause in running the quiz in such a professional way. The
By Jennifer McShane Murray family and staff (Murray’s Pub) for volunteering the venue and Thomas Hogan of Thomas Hogan Transport, for the winning table prizes. They also wish to thank Greg Redden from Skerries for the printing, Fr Tom Hogan C.ssr for the sound equipment, Fr Paul Hampson P.P Lusk for the collection at Harvest Festival. Others who contributed to the event include, Howley Family Butchers for the cocktail sausages, the lads in the Top Shop for donation from darts
those, young and old, night, and all the sponwho travelled from sors of the raffle prizes near and far to take - those who gave part in the quiz on vouchers for The the night. The total Talbot Hotel amount raised Wexford, The was €3,245.50, Balrothery Inn, The Beauty House which exceeded Corduff, Whites the family’s Agric Lusk, The expectations. Village Barbers “Please accept this Lusk, all those who thank you to one gave cash donations, and all as a sincere the ticket sellers and gratification and deep Molly McNally ticket buyers, and to all appreciation of your those who helped in any generosity and massive small way. Finally, they want to support towards Molly,” the say a big ‘Thank You’ to all McNally family said.
“Furthermore, it would be a costly exercise to replace him, which would still leave us without a chief executive; that’s not a solution.” Farrell, however, is calling on Tierney to be more approachable and to become the visible face of Irish Water. When he took to the airwaves and referred to consultants, a dirty word in Irish politics, he made a grave error. I feel he should be communicating more with the public. I feel that he and the board are hiding in the long grass on this issue. One week after the Budget, we are still talking about Irish Water, instead of the benefits delivered in the budget. It is very frustrating,” said Farrell. “Clarity is required and I would call on John Tierney to clear up the confusion once and for all. He needs to take to the airwaves or issue a statement, as soon as possible. There are clearly communication issues with Irish Water, with a continuous stream of conflicting information coming out - this is not providing an effective service to the people. The question of billing is a particularly thorny issue and needs to be clarified and should have been done long ago. It needs to be dealt with in a calm way and not in the way populist politicians and extreme elements demand.”
ALAN FARRELL TD Working For You In Dublin Fingal For details on constituency clinics go to www.alanfarrell.ie
Dáil Éireann Leinster House www.alanfarrell.ie alan.farrell@oir.ie 01 618 4008