Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

She is pleading with the Minister to deal with this issue because she has heard about it. A section of the population cannot survive even now. Water charges are a serious imposition on top of the property tax and other taxes that will come in. They will further squeeze those households, which are in the difficult position of trying to make ends meet. That is why we are totally opposed to water charges. People are receiving information packs in the post from Irish Water, which include a form requesting personal public service, PPS, numbers, which is to do with claiming the allowances for children aged under 18. Our position on these forms is clear. We are not recommending that people do not return the form, because that is a matter for adults to make up their own minds on. While some are telling people not to return the forms, we are clearly advising people that if they do not return the forms they may lose out on allowances due to them. Some advocate that householders return the packs to Irish Water with a message referring to the fact that they have not signed the contract and are, therefore, not consenting to being charged. Some even suggest that there is no legal basis for the charge and that people who do not fill out the form will not be billed. This is nonsense and Sinn Féin will not be party to deluding people. Those advocating such an approach have provided no legal evidence to back up their position. The only way water charges can be overturned is through legislation in the House. While I support this small Bill, we need to work for the total abolition of water charges on householders.

See this speech in context