Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

It is time for some honesty in this debate. Fine Gael and the Labour Party are kicking the question of water charges down the road until after the local and European elections, with the decision to be made in August. On the basis of the interviews and statements made by the Minister yesterday, a household of two adults and two children will pay €360 per year, while a household of three adults will pay €586 per year. Households with more than one person are being penalised by this so-called Government. It is particularly shameful that the Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party has agreed to these proposals. This is a man who built his career on opposition to water charges. The reality is that we are already paying for water, and these charges amount to double if not triple taxation. In addition to the so-called local property tax, we will now have a completely unfair and unjust water charging regime.

I have two questions for the Minister, which I expect him to deal with in his reply. Will households that are subject to boil water notices be exempt from water charges? Is the Minister listening to me?

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