Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I would like to make a few brief observations on the recent debacle on this issue. Previous speakers have outlined their concerns in regard to the manner in which the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government handled the introduction of previous charges, including the household and septic tank charges, both of which were a total fiasco. As such, there are grave reservations in terms of its ability to handle the introduction of this charge.

I welcome that the Government conceded to a debate on this issue. If this were really about water conservation we would be talking about capital investment to upgrade the water network countrywide. The majority of water lost is not lost on route to households rather it is lost in the network. We should be discussing rain water harvesting in public buildings, schools, hotels and so on. This water charge is another opportunity for Government to generate finance. The Government is, in terms of its proposed appointment of a regulator to oversee this service, abdicating its responsibility. Who will decide the free allowance and what charges will be paid?

Before imposing further charges on hard pressed families the Government should be looking at where cost savings can be achieved. The McCarthy report has been lying on a Minister's desk for the past couple of years without action. The Government could achieve its €500 million savings by implementing the McCarthy report rather than imposing further charges on hard pressed families. Families cannot handle any more charges. We do not know what the charge will be or who will set the rate? I hope this will be done by Government, the members of which have been democratically elected by the people. I abhor that this and the previous Government handed over the decision making process to bureaucratic regulators. We must put a halt to this.

The Croke Park Agreement provides that there can be no compulsory redundancies in the public sector. The Minister of State referred earlier to the 4,000 exceptionally skilled personnel working in the water services throughout the length and breadth of this country. What will happen to these staff when the new entity takes over? I call on the Government to implement the McCarthy report in order to achieve the savings required.

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