Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all agree Irish Water has failed to communicate its message in a clear, coherent policy. Before the campaign began it failed to consider the full range of issues and questions which would arise. We have had a confused message from Irish Water, and the confidence of the people in it has been eroded by its failure to communicate properly with them, not to mind the scaremongering by some of the people in the Chamber who would pay for nothing and want the Government to spend everything. They will go back to the policy of boom and bloom and look where that got us.

A simple question in the application form on a medical condition requiring the use of additional water is unnecessarily complicated. The form could be changed. I am chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children which has asked the HSE to change various modes of communication, and it has done so.

As each issue has arisen, the company has set out different strategies with different spokespeople. It is time the chief executive spoke to the people clearly and cogently and outlined Irish Water's strategy and its benefits. To protect itself and enhance its image, the organisation must do this.

The regulator has a role to play regarding the size of the bills. Those of us who live in the real world recognise people are concerned about the bills they face. In many cases these bills will not be the amount that Deputy Daly is scaremongering-----

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