Mattie McGrath Raises Alarm Over Irish Water Job Transfers
Mattie McGrath spoke about widespread concern among Irish Water and local council water service workers over proposed transfers into the new utility, saying many feel unfairly forced to move and that unions are not doing enough. He urged attention to staff anxiety and called for protections and clarity on compulsory transfers.
Workers' concerns and job transfers
McGrath said many Irish Water workers, including those from Tipperary County Council and Waterford County Council, have raised huge concerns and angst about the transfer of their jobs and careers into Ishgairn, or ARV, or whatever the new utility is called. He described long-serving plumbers, caretakers and other local authority staff as worried about being forced into the new arrangement after years of service.
Allegations about Irish Water's capacity and agreements
The deputy criticised Irish Water's capacity to manage the transfers, saying "Irish water, I hate calling them a basket case, but that's what they are," and noted they "don't have an Elaine Fingham Agreement." He argued the situation is unfair to workers who took on roles with county councils and now face compulsory change.
Union support and worker options
McGrath said he did not think the unions were doing enough for affected staff and reported that many workers are very concerned. He highlighted that some staff do not wish to transfer and that this resistance is a core issue for his constituents.
Ministerial response and parliamentary timetable
In reply, the minister reiterated that the framework agreement provides that there will be no compulsory transfer of council staff to Irish Water, and said there has been engagement with unions and offers of career and training opportunities within the new publicly owned utility. The minister added that a full debate on Irish Water is scheduled for the week after next and pointed to the published framework agreement for details.
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Keesach, many Irish water workers, and indeed Tipperary County Council workers in the water service section, and indeed Waterford County Council workers, who my parish is divided into both, have raised huge concerns and angst with me, and with many other deputies, about what's going on and the transfer of their jobs, their careers, into Ishgairn, or ARV, or whatever you want to call it now. There's huge concerns and angst, because Irish water, I hate calling them a basket case, but that's what they are, and they don't have an Elaine Fingham Agreement. They have no money, and the Whiteboard Minister O'Brien is chomping at the bit to stand up and say they have, they haven't, and they work because they have served the county council, and served the people in the water service section, plumbers, and indeed caretakers, and indeed many of them, have served the country well, and done some service to the state, and they've been forced in many cases now to go into Irish water fully, and leave their jobs for the 80s, took on their gainful employment, as workers with Tipperary County Council, and the Waterford Council, and all the other councils, so this is unfair to them, I don't think the unions are doing an awful lot for them, so they're very concerned. Minister Turism. Thanks Deputy, the week after next we'll be having a full debate on Irish water, just to maybe inform the Deputy who might not be aware, is that we've given a commitment as part of the framework agreement, that there's no compulsory transfer of any council staff, and any local authority, to Irish water. We're creating a single publicly owned utility, we've had really good engagement with all the unions, I met them myself again last week, and we're advancing on that, but any worker who does not wish to transfer, will not be transferred, there will be many opportunities for job advancement, and career advancement, and training, within Irish water as well, but the week after next we'll be having a full debate, but it's important Deputy to know this, that for your own constituents as well, that anyone working in water services, in the local authority, for whatever reason it does not suit them, or they do not wish to transfer, there's no compulsory transfers, and that's actually in the framework agreement, which is actually published.
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