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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| NI Water dispute: Minister says 1,200 customers are without water | NI Water dispute: Minister says 1,200 customers are without water |
| (13 minutes later) | |
| About 1,200 customers are currently without water because of the ongoing 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. |
| 'Intolerable' | 'Intolerable' |
| The areas affected are mainly counties Londonderry, Fermanagh and Tyrone. | |
| In its latest statement, NI Water said there had been "an improvement in the water supply situation overnight" and confirmed that all water treatment works are now back in service. | |
| However it warned: "It may take time for the system to fully recharge and customer supplies to be restored to normal. Airlocks may also cause some difficulties in the system; this will impact on restoration times in a small number of cases." | |
| Stormont's regional development 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. | |
| Mr Kennedy told MLAs it was "intolerable" that so many customers had suffered for so long without water as a result of the work-to-rule action that has been going on for more than a month. | |
| 'Private contractors' | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | |
| Late night talks | |
| He said union representatives were due to speak to shop stewards about the latest pensions offer while he was addressing the committee. | 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. | 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. | 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. |