Mr. David Fitzsimons:

Most of the time budgetary interventions do not influence spending, but communication of budgetary interventions does. The timing of the property tax announcement by the Revenue Commissioners before Christmas did awful damage; it is likewise with some of the discussion and conversation on water charges. We have a solution that was presented at the retailer consultation forum last week and it is an unbelievable opportunity for the Government - a scrappage scheme. Dishwashers and washing machines that are more than five years old use 26 litres of water every cycle, whereas new washing machines and dishwashers use six litres. We are working on a document for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan to consider, on equipment that is more energy and water efficient. We want to try to have some incentive scheme to get old machines off the market and are also working with WEEE Ireland to get in new stuff. People all of a sudden will feel better about the water charges because they will be using less and will pay for less water. I hope the Government will see this as a significant opportunity for it, the retail sector and citizens.