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Terrence McDonough, an economics professor at the National University of Ireland in Galway, joins The Water Values Podcast on this St. Patrick’s Day release to discuss one of the most controversial issues surrounding water presently in the world: the implementation of water charges in Ireland. Terry fills us in on how water historically has been paid for by the Irish people, why the model has changed, and what is behind all of the unrest over these charges in Ireland. As Terry explains, it’s a very complicated issue. One far more complex than it appears at first blush.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
- How funding for water utilities historically has been collected in Ireland
- How water quality is regulated in Ireland
- The primary source of water pollution in Ireland
- The fragmented nature of water utility service in Ireland
- How consolidation of the fragmented systems will occur
- Why Irish drinking water systems are predominantly draw from surface water sources
- How climate changes is affecting the Irish water supply
- Why Ireland is implementing, for the first time, charges for water service
- How the new water rates are being set
- The political forces impacting Irish water charges
- The political unrest concerning the water charges
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
- Irish Water website
- Right 2 Water opposition website
- Terry’s website
- One of many Irish Times articles on the Irish water protests (this one by Niamh Hourigan published on February 28, 2022)
- New York Times Op-Ed by Fintan O’Toole The Irish Rebellion Over Water (December 19, 2021)
- New York Times article by Kate Galbraith on protests over Irish water charges (November 12, 2021)
- Andrew Wilson’s Flickr album of pictures from October 12, 2014, Dublin protests over Irish water charges
- Jonny Pardoe’s Flickr album of pictures from October 12, 2014, Dublin protests over Irish water charges
Transcript
Click here to download the Transcript for Session 54 of The Water Values Podcast.
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