Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

I am grateful for the opportunity to offer a few words on the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. I agree with the previous speakers who have opposed the Bill. The Bill represents another stealth tax on top of the refuse charges and the proposed water charge and house tax. It is a method of fleecing the ordinary man and woman in the street. In this case ordinary rural dwellers will be targeted by the Bill. It is discriminatory and represents an attack on rural Ireland generally, which has already lost Garda stations, post offices and local shops. Local creameries have been gone for some time. This is another nail in the coffin of rural Ireland. It is absolutely discriminatory.

Public systems in towns and villages have been funded completely by the Exchequer and many of these systems have been brought into compliance. However, this legislation discriminates against people living in rural communities by effectively forcing them to remediate systems that do not comply with the standards. The suggestion that the earlier standard might be acceptable is nothing more than a suggestion and, in practice, we will see the newer 2009 EPA standards implemented.

There should be no need to register. I am opposed to registering and I will recommend that people refuse to register. Registration is not required in any other European country.

I propose one measure that might be helpful if it is done in the right way. There are 450,000 people unemployed at present. This is an ideal scenario for a public works programme that could put people back to work. Engineers, tradesmen of all kinds and people who have worked in construction are available. This is an ideal opportunity to fund an initiative through a public works programme to put these people back to work, to put more money into circulation in local communities and to put more people into employment downstream. I will oppose the Bill and recommend to people that they do not register. I hope the Minister will use this as a public works programme funded through the Exchequer to put people back to work.

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