law and the environment 2013 the human right to water and reform of the irish water services sector...

Law and the Environment 2013

The Human Right to Water and Reform of the Irish Water

Services Sector

Dr. Owen McIntyreFaculty of Law

University College Cork

Introduction

• Influence of HRW on Water Sector Reform?• Human Right to Water

– Sources– Normative Content

• Reform of Irish Water Sector• Current Legislative Framework• HRW in Irish Law

– International Law– Constitutional law– Statutory Law

• Issues

Human Right to Water

• Sources:– Explicit:

• 1979 CEDAW, Art. 14(2); 1979 CRC, Art. 24(2)(c); 1949 Geneva Conventions III (POWs) and IV (Civilians); 1990 African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child, Art. 14;

• Procedural, informational and participative rights: ILO Conventions 107 and 169, Art. 15(1) (Indigenous and Tribal Peoples); African Charter HPR, Art. 24 ECHR, Art. 6; Environmental Instruments (Aarhus, Espoo, etc.)

– Implicit:• 1966 ESCR Covenant, Arts. 11 and 12 [General Comment

15 – non-binding interpretation, statement de lege ferenda]; 1966 CPR Covenant, Art. 6; 1948 UDHR, Arts. 22 and 25; Regional HR Conventions – 1988 Add. Protocol ACHR;


• Sources (cont.)– Supporting Legal Texts / Decisions:

• 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, Art. 10(2) – VHNs; 1999 UNECE Protocol on Water and Health, Arts. 4 & 6; 2004 ILA Berlin Rules, Art 17

• State recognition [SA 1996 Const. s. 27(1)(b) and 1998 Nat. Water Act; Supreme Court of India];

• Intl. Investment Law – ICSID• IFI / MDB Social and Env. Safeguard Policies (OD 4.30);

Equator Principles (substantive and procedural)

– Declarative Support:• 1977 Mar del Plata Action Plan; 1992 Dublin Statement;

Agenda 21; CSD Decision 6/1 (1998); UNGA Res. 35/18 (1980); WHO, FAO, UN SG, UN Comm HR, EU Parliament; 2010 UNGA and HRC, etc.


• Sources (cont.)– Corporate / Technical Guidance

• World Panel on Financing Water Infrastructure• Corporate CSR Policies (Suez, Véolia)• 2007 UN Global Compact Leaders Summit (CEO Water Mandate)• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises • 2002 Draft Declaration on the Right to Access Essential Services

(WSSD)• ISO Technical Committee 224 (3 Guidelines) [‘right to water

indicators’ – GC15 paras. 53, 54] – ‘trade-neutral regulatory standards re GATS

• UN draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Entities with Regard to Human Rights / SRSG HR and TNCs

• AfDB 2010 Guidelines on Cost Recovery for Urban Networked Sanitation / Rural Non-Networked Sanitation


• Content– Substantive freedoms and entitlements re access to

adequate (availability, quality, accessibility) safe water and sanitation services (WHO Guidelines)

• Respect, protect, fulfil• Non-discrimination, concrete and targeted steps

– Procedural, informational and participative rights: non-derogable ‘core obligations’ – GC15, para. 40 [GC15, paras. 12(c)(iv), 16(a), 24, 37(f), 48, 55 and 56]

– Non-discrimination [GC15, paras. 13-16 and 37(b)] – Environmental protection of water resources:

[GC 15, paras. 8, 10, 11, 12(b), 16(c) and (d), 21, 23, 28(b) and (e), 29, 44(a)(iii) and (b)(i)

Reform of Irish Water Sector

• 2009 EU/IMF MoU – domestic charges– Programme for Government: Irish Water

• Investment; Efficiency;

• 2000 EU Water Framework Directive, Art 9(1)• DoECLG Position Paper / Implement. Strategy

– Transfer operations WSAs – Irish Water 2017– EPA – Env. Regulation; CER – Econ. Regulation – No privatisation?- EU/IMF; WS Act 2007– Universal metering– Free allowance of water –quantum?

Current Legislative Framework

• WS Act 2007, s. 105 – no charges for domestic watsan services (not commenced)

• WS Act 2007, s.17 – Min. scheme for financial assistance (no waiver)

• Comprehensive environmental / water quality controls

Human Right to Water in Irish Law

• International Law– Party to1966 ICESCR (unincorporated)

• Intend to sign up to ICESCR Optional Protocol• Abstained UNGA 2010 Res on HRW&S

– Party to UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (unincorporated)


• Unenumerated Constitution Rights– Right to Bodily Integrity: Art. 40.3.2 - Ryan v.

Attorney General [1965]– Right to Dignity: Preamble; Art. 40.3.2 – In

re a Ward of Court (No. 2) [1996] (right to privacy – sanitation)

– Right of Autonomy: Art. 40.3.2 - Re a Ward of Court (No. 2) [1996] (right to liberty, right to due process)


• Express Constitutional Rights– Guarantee of Equality: Art. 40.1 - Quinn’s

Supermarket v. Attorney General [1972] (right to dignity); In re a Ward of Court (No. 2) [1996] (positive proposition, eliminate indirect discrimination)

• Directive Principles of Social Justice– General guidance of the Oireachtas– Art. 45.4.1: weaker sections of community– Art. 45.4.2: strength and health of workers, men and

women, and the tender age of children


• Constitutional Relevance of (unincorp) International Instruments– Article 29(6) and Article 15.2.1: domestic

rules prevail in case of conflict– State (Healy) v. Donoghue [1976]: Art.6

ECHR re criminal legal aid (due course of law under Art.38; guarantees under Art.40.3)

– O’Leary v. Attorney General [1993]: Art.6(2) ECHR and Art.11 UDHR re presumption of innocence under Art. 38


• Statutory Relevance of (unincorp) International Instruments– State (DPP) v. Walsh [1981]: ECHR re

domestic laws– Desmond v. Glackin (No. 1) [1992]: ECHR

re determination of public policy– Nwole v. Minister for Justice [2003]: CRC re

1996 Refugee Act


• Current Statutory Framework– No duty on WSAs to provide water services in absence of Min.

request / regulations• Strategic plans – WS Act 2007, s. 36

– Duty to ensure water quality where provided– No duty to provide toilet facilities in public places (buildings,

events - Planning Law, Residential Tenancy Law, etc.)– Clear / comprehensive environmental duties– Permission to connect to water / sewer; offence to connect

illegally• Unauthorised structures / uses

– WSAs may restrict / prohibit water uses• WSA immunity from liability

– Min. / EPA Compliance Notice Procedures / HC Injunction• No role for individuals

Issues (I)

• Metering:– Realistic plans for effective roll-out;– Installation charges;– Interim ‘flat-charges’ (large households)

• Free Allowance: – Quantum: 60 l/c/d– Household / individual

• Affordability:– Assessing affordability– Differential free allowances– Welfare supplements: [Social Welfare Law]– Waivers– Progressive charging

Issues (II)

• Disconnection:– Safeguards: appeals– Guidelines

• Connection:– Vulnerable people / transient communities:

[Planning and Development Law; Equality Law; Residential Tenancy Law; etc.]

• Governance: – Transparency, participation, reviewability

and accountability

law and the environment 2013 the human right to water and reform of the irish water services sector...

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