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As the controversy continues on Irish Water, one Sinn Fein councillor reflects on Mallow having been chosen in 2013 as one of the eight regional centres. Photo: 123RF

As the Irish Water controversy rumbled on this week, Sinn Fein Councillor Melissa Mullane said Mallow has given them almost half a million euro this year and had, in reality, handed over the keys to their water assets.

Mallow was chosen last year as one of Irish Water's eight regional centres. She thinks its inevitable that Irish Water is being set up to be privatised and says Mallow has handed over an extremely lucrative asset to the new semi-state company free of charge.

"Mallow or Cork county will never be reimbursed for this asset yet the public will be charged a hefty price for a basic necessity. It is an unjust charge which Sinn Fein have never moved their stance on."  And, she said, Fianna Fail complaining now is "too little, too late. They've always supported a tax on our water. If they were in Government it would be no different."

She was speaking on Tuesday as Irish Water's CEO John Tierney was called before the Oireachtas Environment Committee and was due before the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday to explain the €50m paid to consultants. Cllr Mullane said her fear was that the existing 'ad hoc' spending will become the status quo.

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