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

-----certain elements of the bill will be exempt but other elements will not be exempt. In other words, residents may not be able to drink the water but they will be asked to pay for getting rid of that very same water. In its original legislation why did the Government not decide to specifically exempt homes and businesses with a contaminated supply of water from any water charges whatsoever? Will he agree that people should not be issued with a bill from Irish Water until Irish Water is in a position to provide a proper service to them? Will he accept in that context that people issued with boil-water notices should be exempt from day one? Is he now prepared to accept the legislation tabled by my colleague, Deputy Barry Cowen, to amend the original Water Services Bill with a view to ensuring that people would be so exempt?

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