Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support this amendment. There is some confusion over it, but it makes a basic request for a bit of humanity from the system for people who cannot pay. The past ten days have seen attacks on people with disabilities. They will not be able to pay. The Minister of State knows this better than I do.

I disagree with the basis of the Bill. We are handing responsibility for water over to Bord Gáis. We will have great gas, but we will have no water. We all know that the Bill is a crude instrument. The Minister of State is the softer side of the Department. Tá an Aire, Big Phil, imithe. Has he gone with the Chief Whip to Australia to see if he can get water? St. Patrick's Day is not for another ten days. It is the Flight of the Earls again. The current Government criticised the last Government.

We are forcing people into penury. In our time on local authorities, we made representations for people. Now, we might as well write to Santa Clause as write to Bord Gáis. We have seen how it treats people, for example, disconnecting them or demanding upfront payments. As Deputy Cowen mentioned, the regulator has given Bord Gáis increase after increase. There is no accountability, understanding or shred of humanity in this legislation.

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