Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----about the EU framework directive. We have never publicised that. When this committee sought its content, we made that available to it. We are here today to enforce that in as best a way as we can because it is our belief that the Dáil may accept a recommendation from this committee to revert to a non-charging regime and allow water charges and services to be paid for by the customer, namely, the State. We have every right to make this committee aware of the sound legal advice that backs up the contention that we have held for some time. I did not abuse that advice by making it public. I brought it to this committee, where it deserves to be, in order that the committee could make an informed decision and the Dáil would ultimately make the right decision.