Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I will speak to amendment No. 24 which states: "The Minister shall report to Dáil Éireann within six months of this Act coming into effect on the number of domestic swimming pools for the purpose of levying a charge on such pools." We submitted this amendment because the legislation includes the so-called excessive use charge. As far as we are concerned this is a Trojan horse, which builds into the legislation the possibility of the reintroduction of water charges through the back door because if the excessive use charge is set at 1.7 times the average, that is, households using 70% more than the average, it might be true that only 8% of households will be caught with that now. The legislation, however, also allows for the Dáil in five years' time to reduce the figure of 1.7. Our amendments to that have been ruled out of order. In five years' time the Dáil if it wishes can reduce the figure of 1.7 and as it progressively reduces, it potentially draws more and more people under the heading of the excessive use charge, which effectively brings in water charges through the back door.

It has been argued that by opposing the excessive use charge we are opposed to the idea of massive wastage of water. We are not opposed to luxury use of water, such as water features in gardens or swimming pools, but if there is massive waste of water or in reality, luxury use of water, we will support that. I hope others will too. Let us have a report within six months for the purpose of levying a charge on domestic swimming pools.