Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Chairman has given me time. I would like to run through a couple of direct issues and get some confirmation on them. My understanding is that there is no real risk of water poverty being created if we move to a generous allowance-based system of payment for water. This is because there would be an allowance, which would be paid for, that would cover everyone's water requirements. Such a system would create a zero rate possibility of water poverty.

I appreciate that the witness gave an answer on this matter, but my understanding is that the 2014 system, because of the safeguards in it, effectively ensured that there was no real risk of water poverty. Will the witness confirm that to be the case?

I appreciate what Senator Coffey said in terms of group water schemes, but I am particularly interested in one aspect. Professor Collins alluded to being a member of one himself. In this perhaps political one-upmanship when it comes to group water schemes, there is a real risk that we - God forgive me for using the expression - throw the baby out with the bath water and that we lose an inherent value of group water schemes, which is the way they work within a community and provide a service. My understanding from the conversations I have had with some of their members is that they would be very adverse to the notion of what would amount to a State takeover and a loss of the ethos, control and way in which a group water scheme works within a community. We should be cognisant of that when addressing the group water scheme issue.

I want to go back to one key aspect on the conservation issue and I appreciate that the question was probably answered. I do not know what type of utopian world some people live in, but in the real world, which most of us inhabit, all the conservation notices, educational programmes and carrots, as I think they were referred to earlier on, in the world will not alter behaviour to the same extent that a very good and effective stick will. I would ask those who believe in the virtue of Merrion Square to think about it. If there was a sign around the no parking zones in Merrion Square that asked us to please give up the spot in two hours and let someone else use it because parking spots are scarce, how many people do we think would voluntarily pull their car out after two hours and head off? As one of those who remembers living in this city prior to clamping, I can assure the committee that those spots would be gone at 8 a.m. and that they would not be back. I would very much share the view which was outlined that it would be insanity not to have some enforcement.

On the notion that we could end up using the 2007 Act to fine people as an efficient means of trying to persuade them to conserve water, we are all aware of the absolutely calamitous situation we have with issuing fines in this country and trying to get people to pay them. Given the cost involved and the ability to appeal a fine for excessive water usage, possibly to the Supreme Court, to me this would be an insane system for this committee to consider. I hope that we would be guided by some of the advice provided in that regard.

At the heart of it, the witness seems to be siding very much with the commission's report in terms of its recommendation for the usage in this area. Will the witness confirm that to be so? I heard him say he would take it on board, so I reassure Dr. Collins that the biggest thing the grandparents of Ireland who are minding children have complained to me about over the past five or six years is the fact that someone destroyed the economy of our country, that they are delighted to have the children in the house and minding them and that their own children are out working.