Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I want to discuss the fiscal rules. It has been suggested that we must meet these fiscal rules.

I know that this is a policy matter, but it is a possibility that these rules could be breached by the Government, because they have been breached by other countries, and they are being breached by some other countries as we speak. On the other side of that, in his Budget Statement, the Minister suggested that not only was he going to meet the fiscal rules target of the 60% debt-GDP ratio, but that he was going to go to 45% of that. If the Minister was to forgo doing that, there would surely be considerable leeway for the State to fund water and wastewater services. If he was to go to a 45% debt-GDP ratio it would take something like €38 billion out of the economy.

Non-domestic or commercial charges were raised in both contributions. What is the current rate of collection of commercial water charges? Mr. McCarthy spoke about the relatively low yield and the question of administrative costs and billing systems in that regard. We were told last week that the billing system costs Irish Water €25 million. We were also told in that presentation that the excessive charge would not provide significant revenue. Would Mr. McCarthy have any views or thoughts on that kind of a situation? It seems to me that it does not make sense.