Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

None of us will know probably until March next year. When the Minister toyed with the idea of tax relief, when questioned in the Dáil he mentioned that if the tax relief was to be given at source, it would fail. That is because it would be seen as a Government subsidy to Irish Water, but if it were to be clawed back, it is likely it would not be seen by EUROSTAT as a Government subsidy. That is the type of fine detail we are considering. Is Professor McHale concerned that the conservation grant which has nothing to do with conservation and is conditional on registering with Irish Water could be seen in the same light? If so, that is the one - pardon the pun - that will put the whole thing under water.