Greens call for public ownership of Irish Water to be enshrined in constitution
The Green Party is calling on the Government to advance legislation for a referendum on the public ownership of water.
They claim Irish Water is in danger of becoming privately owned if laws aren't changed.
While the Greens are in favour of paying for water, the party is proposing the inclusion of a new article into the constitution which states that water shall not be privatised or commercialised.
Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan says this referendum would help to improve public confidence in Irish Water.
"Do we want our water to be held in public or in private ownership into the future?" Ryan said.
"We think a new article - Article 10.5 - which sets out that is has to stay in public ownership is needed.
"We think it's a real fear that people have at the moment, that the way Irish Water is being set up is towards a future privatisation.
"We should put that to the Irish people, to win back some sort of trust."
