Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

First, we want to set up the water authority, Irish Water, as soon as possible. The independent assessment will be completed before October, but I understand there will be an interim report before then. I hope, therefore, the legislation will be ready before January next year.

Second, I understand it could take up to three years in total to install water meters in every household. There are difficulties in certain areas and with certain housing types; for example, it can be very expensive to install meters where people are living in blocks of apartments. When metering will commence is a matter for the Ministers involved.

The only reason this is happening is that the memorandum of understanding signed by the previous Government with the IMF and the European Union forces it upon this and succeeding Governments - it is the origin of the charges.

See this speech in context