Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am absolutely in favour of conserving water. What is happening here is not about conservation but about the transfer of a tax burden from the Exchequer to the individual householder. I refer to people who would not be in a position to pay the tax if it were levied under an income tax regime.

The Taoiseach stated that Irish Water would not be sold. The State will not be selling it soon. Who is to say, however, that it cannot and will not be sold in the future? Legislation changes all the time. People do not believe it cannot be sold. One is required not only to provide the PPS number of adults in a household but also those of children. These numbers could potentially be used and sold as an asset, as I stated previously.

What the Government is not telling us is that it is charging students with means-tested grants who are from households that are not wealthy. It is charging social welfare recipients - those under 25 - in receipt of just €100 per week. There are many categories for whom €130 represents a lot of money. It is a full week's income. The ability-to-pay clause has not been included. It is not a conservation measure and I challenge the Taoiseach to tell me that it is.

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