Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The contractors who are subcontracted to Irish Water will not go onto private property unless they are invited to do so. When the situation kicks in where the first leak between the meter and the edge of the house will apply, obviously, the recommendation is to fix that free. Water meters are on the public thoroughfare, and they are there because water paid for by the public is going through that pipe.

It is perfectly in order for people to have a legitimate protest, and I meet them around the country on so many occasions, but it is not legal to prevent people from doing their job and doing their duty, for which they are paid, in order to provide water meters on public property so that a contribution can be had from those who avail of the water flowing through those pipes. That water is produced and paid for by the Irish taxpayer.

We want to see a situation where the charges are fair, equitable and affordable. The water meters are on public property and not on private property. If people want to protest legitimately about that, they are entitled to do so but they are not entitled to prohibit or prevent people from doing their duty.

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