The following motion was moved by Deputy Barry Cowen on Tuesday, 21 October 2014: That Dáil Éireann: notes:— that the 2009 Fine Gael Party NewERA document advocated the establishment of Irish Water; — the announcement of the Irish Water charges plan on 30 September and the introduction of the new domestic water tariff system on 1 October; — the €172 million set-up costs of Irish Water; — the €80 million being spent on consultants within the set-up of Irish Water; — the €500 million ongoing estimated spend on water metering across the country; — the €300 million in total annual domestic revenue accruing to Irish Water; — the performance related award bonus structure within Irish Water; and — the 700 staff due to be employed within Irish Water by the end of 2015; further notes: — the Government’s plans to subsidise Irish Water's domestic revenue stream through several options by an estimated €125 million; — the estimated domestic revenue stream, after Government subsidies, of approximately €150 million-€175 million; and — the number of changes to the water charges system introduced by the Government since 1 October; condemns: — the Government's failure to address excessive spending on outside consultants; — the lack of information for members of the public and lack of a complaints system; — the lack of communications between the Oireachtas and Irish Water; — the lack of additional spending on the water infrastructure network; and — the Government's refusal to acknowledge the ability to pay or otherwise; and calls on the Government to: — fully review the appropriateness of the Irish Water model from a funding and service delivery point of view; — assess the actual sustainability of the funding streams of Irish Water; — confirm that it has no intention of privatising Irish Water; — establish an equitable regime for reliefs on domestic water tariffs; — ensure the body is subjected to full Oireachtas scrutiny, not just internal political party forums; and — cease any payment of bonuses within Irish Water.

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