Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to address water charges and the greater issue of water supply. I will start by reading into the record, probably not for the first time in this debate, a document dated 10 October 2009, namely, Fianna Fáil's "Renewed Programme for Government". The Members opposite will remember this:

We will introduce charging for treated water use that is fair, significantly reduces waste and is easily applied. It will be based on a system where households are allocated a free basic allowance, with charging only for water use in excess of this allowance. In keeping with the allocation of greater responsibility to local government, Local Authorities will set their own rates for water use.

This is from the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government's review of its programme for Government.

I have a further document belonging to Fianna Fáil from 1977, some 37 years ago and before my time or my dad's, in which it abolished local rates, ringing the death knell for the delivery of local services across our country.

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