Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

In today's Irish Independent, a senior Government source is quoted as stating categorically that flat-rate water charges will be introduced in 2012 and that these are part of the EU-IMF deal. There is reference to households being obliged to pay €175 per annum in this regard. Is it the Government's intention to bring legislation before the House to impose this new burden on working people as part of the bailout of foreign banks? When does the Government intend to do this?

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