Sir, – The Eurostat finding that Irish Water failed the market corporation test and that it must remain on the Government’s books is surely a wake-up call for all of us. The conclusion I make is not the populist anti-water charge protester’s view that it is time to abolish water charges but that it is time for our Government to be open, honest and transparent with the public in its plans. Most reasonable people would accept a fair charge that encouraged conservation and paid towards the cost of upgrading the water infrastructure. But what annoyed many was the waste of taxpayers’ funds in the setting up of Irish Water and a concern that charges may continue to pay for inefficiencies and be an unfair burden on some vulnerable families. An attempt to buy off the protesters with a temporary low charge that undermined any real element of conservation has clearly backfired. – Yours, etc,
FRANK BROWNE,
Templeogue, Dublin 16.