Ms Michelle Murphy:

We have always been in favour of the concept of universality. Part of our proposal on water charges was a universal allowance. The other part of our proposal was a tapered charging system, because that is the only way to avoid a situation, for example, in which people moving into low-paid employment lose all of their benefits. Without the studies that have been done, it is very difficult, as Ms Fahy mentioned, even to make submissions to the Commission for Energy Regulation. At the time we proposed a tapered system of charges. Ireland might have difficulty in terms of economic, social and cultural rights if it did not also provide a universal allowance. We firmly back the concept of universality, accompanied by a tapered charging system. It is very difficult to analyse it if we do not have the information.