South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Minister Right to examine future of NI Water

Published: 15 March, 2010

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has welcomed the decision by colleague Conor Murphy, Minister for Regional Development to examine all options, including the option of bringing NI Water back under Central Government control.

Alex Maskey MLA said,

"NI Water has been in existence as an arms length Government-owned Company since 2007. This governance arrangement was established by the previous direct rule administration as a self-financing business model, which was to become self-sustainable in the long-term through household water charges."

"My colleague Conor Murphy has already ruled out the privatisation of these services and reaffirmed the commitment to ensure they remain in full public ownership. He then deferred proposed household charges over the course of this Assembly term. He has now moved to examine the option of bringing NI Water back into his Department and under central government control and what the implications of that would be, which is to be welcomed." CRÍOCH