Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the context of a question I put to the Taoiseach yesterday in regard to the setting aside of time for a debate on the financial model for Irish Water, I asked if people would know well in advance of the local elections what they are likely to be charged for water and the Taoiseach's response was that they would. The Taoiseach did not, perhaps, realise at that time that the regulator would appear before a committee and say something different, namely, that he expected to receive a report on water charges in June and would not be in a position until August to let people know how much they will be charged. There is an urgent need for somebody to clarify the record, be that the record of this House in respect of Leaders' Questions yesterday or the record of the committee. From what the Taoiseach said this morning, it now appears householders will not know before the local elections what they are likely to be charged for water. The Taoiseach was very assertive yesterday, which assertiveness I welcome-----

See this speech in context