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IRISH WATER’S HEAD of communications has responded to questions about photos circulating on social media of men dressed in company-branded gear, apparently filming anti-charges protesters with their faces obscured.
Photos taken in Broadstone, Stoneybatter and elsewhere in Dublin have been circulating in recent months — of men decked out in all-weather gear, their faces masked by a combination of scarves, hats, helmets and sunglasses, and carrying cameras.
A Dáil question for the Environment Minister on the issue from TD Clare Daly was disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle earlier this month.
Daly told TheJournal.ie she had wanted to raise the issue so that Irish Water could investigate it — but that she had been told Minister Alan Kelly had no official responsibilty in the area.
We also asked about the issue — but were told by Kelly’s department it was a matter for Irish Water.
In follow-up queries, Irish Water told us in a statement that its workers were “not permitted to obscure their faces. However, they do wear weather appropriate clothing and are provided with a hat as part of the standard issue personal protective clothing”.
It’s known Irish Water contractors GMC Sierra have hired a surveillance firm, Guardex - to film demonstrators involved in rolling protests against meter installations in the Dublin area.
In court last October, the company said it had evidence that GMC staff had been subjected to a continuing campaign of abuse by regular anti-charges demonstrators.
Daly told us it was “absolutely verifiable that Irish Water workers have dressed in this way and sought to intimidate communities”.
She said that if Irish Water “were saying that’s not their modus operandi” then she hoped they would investigate it.
Irish Water’s head of communications Elizabeth Arnett was in this website’s newsroom during the week for a wide-ranging Q&A.
Here’s what she had to say about the issue:
(In case you don’t have full video-playing capability at the moment – when asked if she could say definitively say that that an Irish Water contractor hadn’t hired a firm whose workers dressed in that manner, she said it was “certainly not something that would be acceptable for us”.)
Daly, meanwhile, said that someone needed to take responsibility if people were “allowed to travel around into communities behaving like that and no-one says anything”.
She said it was “not good enough” for the Department to abdicate its responsibility in the area.
Additional reporting, Hugh O’Connell.
Is Tubridy going to interview Lydon? I’d watch the Late Late just to see that.
I predict Ukraine will win again : )
What an absolute waste of money.
It is hard to know or judge the atmosphere that will exist when the votes are counted. Each song has it’s own good features but I do not think any will be a Eurovision winner. Something young and upbeat might be what is needed, but you also have to consider the viewing and voting public, and I dislike the current vote counting format anyway. Good luck to all anyway and best wishes to whoever gets to go to Liverpool.
After listening to these… relieved to know we won’t have to host it in ’23…all so bad…. with all the musical talent we have in Ireland… hard to believe that we can’t come up with anything half decent
Send back in Dustin the Turkey for the craic
Jaysus we haven’t a hope. Wild Youth and Leila Jane the best of a bad bunch. Adgy if they want to go for that complete Europop sound that somehow wins these days. We’ve a better chance of winning the soccer world cup.
Although they’re not Eurovision type songs, the two by Connolly and Leila Jane are my favourites in that order. Both should have bright futures in the industry, whatever happens.
We’ll be lucky to qualify with any of those. Poor, poor again. Who actually decides the six? Old fogies who haven’t a clue by the looks of it. Unfortunately, you need to have something that’s never been done before that makes people sit up and take notice, something completely woke or something that pulls at the heart strings to get anywhere in this competition. I was all for Mr. Lydon before I heard the song. 3 of the six might have an outside chance but there’s nothing new in there. Remember, the last time we qualified it was 2 guys having a snog on stage, that’s what got us through, not the song. Have we not learned anything?
Think We are one is the best there. It covers everything needed for Eurovison in my opinion. But sure they might do a Fr Ted here and go for the god awfull Too Good for your love song.
Surely this is not the best Ireland has to offer. Whatever happens to singers who know how to project their voices and sing intelligible lyrics.
Leila Jane and Connolly 2 descent songs.
@John Kenny: oh they’ll descend alright…
@UK Hurling Bloke: decent!
Getting old !
CONNOLLY would be my pics if she can sing it live. Wild Youth surely big favourites given big fan base
@Gareth Miskelly: Connolly song sounds very like Lana Del Rey to me, but I like it.
Leila Jane the best of a so-so bunch. Adgys song is catchy but wouldn’t stand out among the 25+ songs in a semi.
Need to think outside the box and go completely leftfield but not Dustin proportions!
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Sam Ryder set the bar extremely high last year. None of these entries are melodic enough and there’s too much use of repetition and unimaginative harmonies.
Going by people’s opinions in the comments of what songs should get through, I can see exactly why we don’t even qualify most years
It’s not about the song it’s about the image and how it’s perceived publicly
Wild Youth I think best song
Hawaii , just a fantastic song
I’m voting for Hawaii! It’s so lovely and caring m! Who knew the awkward b has such deep felt feelings! Well I did actually. Do it for Ireland John!
I’m voting for Hawaii! It’s so lovely and caring m! Who knew the awkward bollox has such deep felt feelings! Well I did actually. Do it for Ireland John!
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