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NI Water dispute: Minister says 1,200 customers are without water NI Water dispute: Minister says 1,200 customers are without water
(18 minutes later)
About 1,200 customers are currently without a water supply due to an industrial dispute, the regional development minister has confirmed. About 1,200 customers are currently without water because of the ongoing industrial dispute, the regional development minister has confirmed.
Danny Kennedy is addressing an emergency meeting of Stormont's regional development committee to brief MLAs on the latest situation.Danny Kennedy is addressing an emergency meeting of Stormont's regional development committee to brief MLAs on the latest situation.
He repeated his apology to customers.He repeated his apology to customers.
The pensions dispute between NI Water and its employees has disrupting water supplies at thousands of properties over the last few weeks.The pensions dispute between NI Water and its employees has disrupting water supplies at thousands of properties over the last few weeks.
The areas affected are mainly counties Londonderry, Fermanagh and Tyrone.The areas affected are mainly counties Londonderry, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
'Intolerable'
The committee, which holds the Department of Regional Development to account, is questioning the minister and senior staff at NI Water about their handling of the dispute that has been going on for more than a month.The committee, which holds the Department of Regional Development to account, is questioning the minister and senior staff at NI Water about their handling of the dispute that has been going on for more than a month.
Mr Kennedy told MLAs he was "limited" in what he could say in public about ongoing talks between unions and management aimed at resolving the row. Mr Kennedy told MLAs it was "intolerable" that so many customers had suffered for so long without water as a result.
Discussions went on until late on Tuesday night, but agreement could not be reached. He said he has asked Northern Ireland's utility regulator to examine NI Water's response to the dispute and its handling of the problems facing its customers.
NI Water said a final offer was made to unions and will be put to staff later. The chair of the committee asked the minister at what stage he would consider bringing in private contractors to carry out repairs and alleviate the problems.
Mr Kennedy said: "There was a reluctance on behalf of private contractors to interfere, if you like, or to be seen to be interfering in industrial action.
"Whether or not that continues to be the case would remain to be seen, whether or not other private contractors would have the same views is a different issue."
He said he wanted to await the outcome of Wednesday's talks.
The minister told MLAs he was "limited" in what he could say in public about ongoing talks between unions and management aimed at resolving the row.
He said union representatives were due to speak to shop stewards about the latest pensions offer while he was addressing the committee.
Discussions between both sides went on until late on Tuesday night, but agreement could not be reached.
NI Water said a final offer was made to unions and would be put to staff later.
Last month, Nipsa, Unite and GMB members voted for a work-to-rule and withdrawal of on-call services and overtime, and as a result out-of-hours repairs are not being carried out.Last month, Nipsa, Unite and GMB members voted for a work-to-rule and withdrawal of on-call services and overtime, and as a result out-of-hours repairs are not being carried out.
On Tuesday, more than 1,000 school children spent the day at home and about 7,500 properties were cut off.On Tuesday, more than 1,000 school children spent the day at home and about 7,500 properties were cut off.
An agreement was reached just before Christmas between NI Water and trade unions which meant people would not be without water supply for more than 24 hours.An agreement was reached just before Christmas between NI Water and trade unions which meant people would not be without water supply for more than 24 hours.
Mr Kennedy said on Tuesday that if there was no resolution of the dispute, the emergency protocol that was in place over Christmas must be re-instated.Mr Kennedy said on Tuesday that if there was no resolution of the dispute, the emergency protocol that was in place over Christmas must be re-instated.
NI Water has a postcode search on its website for customers to check for the latest information on supply disruption in their areas.NI Water has a postcode search on its website for customers to check for the latest information on supply disruption in their areas.