Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This bulldozing of the so-called Water Services (No. 2) Bill, as proposed, represents an attack on the democratic role and responsibilities of Members of this House, who take that role and those responsibilities seriously. Members want to properly scrutinise and examine all legislation. That opportunity is not being presented to us. This is an absolute sham. I have no doubt that if the Minister, Deputy Quinn, were on this side of the House he would be totally intolerant of what is now being proposed. I ask for consistency. This is absolutely outrageous. The Bill is to facilitate the imposition of water charges on householders and other water users across the State. One thing is for sure: it does not give any details about what charges we are to face. Without question, there will be no account taken of people's ability to pay, just as no account was taken of this regarding the local property tax. This has far-reaching implications.

The manager of Dublin City Council and city and county managers across the State have expressed very valid concerns about the consequences of this legislation's passage and its impact from the beginning of the new year. We need the time to address this properly if we are to perform our role as responsible elected representatives, irrespective of the politics we represent. I ask that the Government now withdraw the proposal on the Order Paper and take a completely different course.

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