Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is an interesting insight into the state of disarray within the Labour Party when Deputy Quinn is announcing his resignation as Minister for Education and Skills two days before the culmination of a leadership battle. His giving a resignation speech at the same time as Leaders' Questions is also a snub to the Taoiseach.

I have a question regarding Irish Water. There are 750,000 people in the State living in poverty, one person in ten cannot afford food and 13% of the population went without purchasing fuel last year. At the same time the Taoiseach is seeking to enforce a water tax on the same people. With what can only be described as contempt for Dáil oversight, Irish Water has again failed to provide details of a new water tax. The appearance of representatives of the Commission for Energy Regulation at yesterday's meeting of the environment committee was farcical. The committee's democratic function was obstructed as it was denied the vital information by which it seeks to make decisions, and despite the regulator requesting information from Irish Water at yesterday's meeting, the company failed to supply the required documentation. That is par for the course.

The establishment of Irish Water has been shrouded in secrecy from the start and the Dáil is being denied information on a consistent basis by the Government. As a result, citizens do not believe a word from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. There is widespread belief now among citizens that the majority of households will pay a charge much higher than the €240 figure suggested.

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