Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Detailed work must now be done to work up and design a scheme that would provide for the attainment of this objective over time. The policy consideration must take account of the fact that in the absence of any incentive or disincentive effect in terms of the use, we see a good deal of water wasted and used disproportionately in certain households compared to others. We must find a means to address this given that last year it cost approximately €730 million to provide water and waste water facilities in the country. That is a significant charge on the taxpayer and on local authorities and we must find a means to address this in a fair and proportionate way and in a way that takes account of variations of circumstance. We must ensure that indiscriminate use regardless of amount by one household vis-À-vis another is something that must be dealt with as a policy matter. It is something that must be examined by the Government, and it will be examined by the Minister. We are outlining in the policy the direction of our intentions.

See this speech in context