Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appeal to the Taoiseach to, for once, bring proposals to the Oireachtas for discussion and consultation with Members of the Dáil and Seanad. The Government's water charge, borrowed from Fianna Fáil and opposed previously by the Labour Party, is another tax on top of all the other taxes and stealth charges faced by struggling families who have already been hit. The Taoiseach must know that taking this money out of people's pockets means less money going into local economies, which drives down economic activity. As well as being unfair and unjust, the charges make no economic sense.

Charges never reduce. It is inevitable that this charge will increase and that this is the first step in an escalating water charge. I pointed out to the Taoiseach yesterday that it makes no sense at all in terms of water conservation. It is clear that the real intent is to privatise water services in the State.

For the Taoiseach's information, there are no domestic water charges in the North. The Taoiseach should know that.

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