Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am confused with regard to what the so-called row between the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach - and their respective parties - which began yesterday and which has continued this morning, is actually about. We know that the introduction of water charges was proposed by Fianna Fáil and that Labour has agreed to this new austerity tax. There is also no dispute that the Government has set a target of rasing €500 million from this tax on water in 2015 and that in order to achieve this, the average charge per household will be at least €240 next year. There is also no dispute that the standing charge which will apply will be €50 and that the free allowance will be 30,000 litres for an adult or 65,000 for a child. All of these matters have been discussed by the Economic Management Council for a period of weeks.

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