Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for all the work they have put into their submissions, which are very helpful in informing our views for the upcoming budget.

My first question is addressed particularly to SJI - I congratulate it on all its detailed work on these matters. While I agree with much of it, I am concerned that SJI includes the €500 million to be garnered from water charges in its budget arithmetic. This will be very controversial, not just for SJI but for many as they frame their pre-budget submissions. It may not surprise the witnesses to hear that I am completely against water charges. To those concerned with human rights budgeting and so on, access to water is the most basic human right. To charge for it and make it accessible only to those who can afford to pay infringes that right. I am a little surprised that SJI includes it in its budget arithmetic and does not seek to raise revenue elsewhere because it is regressive. I would like to hear comments on that point.