Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

-----but certainly what has been said is not a truth in respect of conservation. If there was a real approach to conservation of water we would not have the energy regulator referring to how, if the revenue achieved through collection of water charges does not meet the cost, it will have to increase the cost of water charged to people. Water is a human right. A conservation programme should have been put in place long before this. This was a major opportunity for the so-called Labour Party Government to bring in such a measure. There should have been a major drive to bring in rainwater harvesting grants throughout the country and for people in homes and businesses to put in rain harvesting and dual access mechanisms in premises. Truly expensive water is being flushed down our toilets every day of the week. It is an absolute outrage that the Government will charge people for what is a human right, that is, to access toilet facilities. This should have been about water conservation. Expensive water is simply going through the taps of the people. This is drinking water for our needs. These measures should have been carried out before this was brought in. If they had, we would not be discussing the big idea of trying to get water from the Shannon to Dublin because we would be dealing with far less water and smaller volumes would be needed to run the country and the city. It is outrageous.

This entity will be privatised irrespective of what the Minister of State says.

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