Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. We had an extensive debate on the establishment of Irish Water and the concept of a water charge and we have been told the Government will make a decision on that in due course but that there was not enough information available to make that decision at this week's Cabinet meeting.

I am happy to seek a debate with the Minister after Easter when the Cabinet decision has been made, but the Leader has pointed out that we have had extensive debates on a measure to which Fianna Fáil signed up when in government.

I take issue with Senator Paschal Mooney's rather clichéd charge that the Government has an anti-rural bias. Every party in opposition during the years has stated the Government has an anti-rural bias. There is no truth in it and we should scupper the notion.