Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 4, to delete lines 15 to 24 and substitute the following:“(d) Notwithstanding section 21(1) of the No. 2 Act of 2013, Irish Water shall not charge for water services provided to a dwelling in respect of any period specified in an order under paragraph (b) or (c).”.

I propose to take amendments Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together. I have brought forward amendment No. 9, to ensure that Irish Water does not charge domestic customers for water services during any period of the extension of the suspension of water charges. Again, this is to ensure that the period of deliberation on the future funding of domestic water services is not in any way distracted by political division over the continuation of water charging and billing. We want to take politics out of the debate, within reason and where possible, and to allow the facts to be brought forward and debated openly without that distraction.

I can assure the committee that the requisite time will be afforded to the deliberative process, and charging will be remain suspended in this period, to allow the expert commission on a long-term funding model for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Irish Water and the Oireachtas committee on the funding for domestic water service to complete their work. In addition, the Government may need additional time to consider the Oireachtas committee's recommendations. The amendment proposes to prohibit Irish Water from charging for domestic water services during any period of extended suspension for Government consideration of such recommendations.

I have brought forward amendment No. 10 with the intention of ensuring Irish Water does not use bills in respect of quarter two 2016 during the period of suspension of water charges, that is from 1 July 2016 to the end of March 2017, for any extension to allow the Oireachtas committee complete its work and for any extension to allow the Government consider the Oireachtas committee's recommendations.

This will ensure there is no distraction, political or otherwise, during the period culminating in the Oireachtas deciding on how we and future generations are to fund domestic water services.

Amendment No. 11 is a technical amendment arising from amendment No. 10 which proposes to insert a new subsection.