Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach said Irish Water is a huge organisation. That is what frightens people. It what they feel they are paying for. The one group that the citizens did not expect to create a super quango was Fine Gael, when one considers what was said in the run up to the last general election. This does not address the issue of ability to pay. If one earns €188 a week on jobseeker’s payment it is a challenge to exist. If one is trying to keep a few young adults in college and has bills to pay it is a challenge. The Taoiseach repeatedly mentions the figure of €800 million but the take is projected to be €370 million next year. That reinforces the point people make that the bills will be substantially higher than is predicted. They are very fearful. It is the only utility people will pay for and not consume because they will be responsible for a leak in a pipe between the metre and the house, except for the first leak. That frightens them. They do not know what they are likely to face.

The former Minister of State, Deputy O’Dowd said he went to the Taoiseach because he was concerned about ability to pay. What did the Taoiseach say to him? Did he give him a hearing? Did the Government consider the ability to pay in respect of those categories?

See this speech in context