Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

The Government must come before the House to explain to us the rationale for these situations. The Tánaiste should also explain why one year ago it was fine to publish massively expensive adverts in newspapers with the slogan: "Look what Fine Gael have in store for you! €238 per annum water tax. Fine Gael - every little hurts." Apparently it does not hurt if the Labour Party now has done an about-face and agreed with the party.

The Tánaiste's approach to this is so shambolic that I cannot resist bringing to his attention a better idea whereby the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government could raise significant sums of money.

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