Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the Taoiseach confirmed the accuracy of that Labour Party advertisement by stating that the average water tax to be imposed on people by this Government will be €240 per annum. Does the Tánaiste agree that the imposition of water tax is half-baked and that the Government has not thought through details of key issues such as metering, standing charges, ability to pay and conservation? Does he further agree that the tax will not survive public scrutiny if left in its current form? Does the Tánaiste agree with those sentiments, which were expressed by a member of the Labour Party to The Irish Times yesterday? Is he of the view that his party is at one with Fine Gael in respect of these matters? Are members of the Labour Party at one with each other, particularly in the context of what is being said? How can the Tánaiste reconcile the statements to which I refer with the fact that despite all the warnings they issued to the electorate in 2011, those in Labour - with their eyes wide open - negotiated a programme for Government and then entered office with Fine Gael? The Labour Party actually supported the inclusion of water tax in the programme for Government and on every occasion it has supported that proposition, including on the final sitting day of 2013 when the parties in government rushed through legislation in the absence of either scrutiny or proper debate. Where does the Labour Party stand in the context of what is now proposed?

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