Fórsa has once again expressed its disappointment at Government’s failure to act on its promise to stage a referendum on water ownership despite it being in the Programme for Government agreed in July 2020.

Fórsa alongside Siptu, Fórsa, Unite, Connect and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) have called on Government to “live up to its commitments” and hold a referendum on the public ownership of water services alongside the gender equality referendum in November 2023.

Whilst the Minister has confirmed the intention to run the water referendum, a date has not yet been secured.

Fórsa national secretary Richy Carrothers said that a referendum would help protect Irish water services from any future attempt at privatisation by providing a constitutional guarantee of public ownership.

“Privatised water services result in higher costs and poorer services for the public. Public ownership of water services ensures safe and sustainable access to water for everyone. It is critical that we continue to press Government to the name the date to keep water public,” he said.

The coalition of unions behind the ‘Keep Water Public’ campaign urged the decision makers to name the date and encouraged members to get behind the campaign by signing this petition. 

“This is the kind of grassroots campaign that unions do best and I’m confident that Fórsa members will seize the opportunity to get this message across to the Government parties,” said Richy.

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