Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill.

It amazes me that there will be no more Government speakers on the Bill, even though the Government has the vast majority of Teachtaí Dála in the House. One would think that this side of the House would run out of speakers much more quickly than the Government. It shows a lack of enthusiasm, if one could call it that, for Government policy. That is understandable. I will read a quote to the House:

I'm against water charging. Water is a necessity, I've always believed essential services like water should be delivered as a public service. A flat household charge would be unfair and does not discriminate between houses with five bathrooms or none, and metering is unworkable.

I would expect every Labour Party Member of the Dáil, including the Minister of State who is present, Deputy Alex White, to support their leader in that statement, which he made on 28 June 2010. It is no surprise that, other than the Minister of State, who must be present, there is no Labour Party Deputy in sight or offering to speak. This is another of the classic Labour Party U-turns in government. What is more serious, however, is that it has done the U-turn without even giving the details of it, because it has not worked this out and does not know what it is doing.

I am delighted that the Minister of State responsible for NewERA has returned.

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