Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I know the Fine Gael Members are earnest in tabling the motion, on which I compliment them. However, they fluffed it in 1997 when they could have carried out major restructuring of the water services. In addition, there is confusion in their party. When Senator John Paul Phelan was on a radio show with me recently, he insisted the Green Party wanted flat-rate water charges. He was wrong. We are not bringing in flat-rate charges; we will have a generous household allowance. Fine Gael ought to get its house in order. As environment spokesperson for the party, Deputy Hogan has spoken several times about the need for investment in water infrastructure, and not only in his own constituency. However, the facts are plain. History will recall that in 1997, when Fine Gael was in power and had the money to invest in water infrastructure, if fluffed it.

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