Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to convey the sympathy of the Technical Group to the family of the late Joe Walsh.

This week the Government employed its best agenda strategies to try to detract public attention from Irish Water and, to a certain extent, it has succeeded. It is no longer the leading headline in the news but the Government should not confuse the media narrative with public sentiment. There is nobody on the street or who answers a door on which one knocks who will not raise this issue. This is not about a small number of people but about the large numbers who were out protesting. This is a general reaction from people.

The figures of €80, €200, €240, €500 or take one's pick are the kinds of figures raised over the past few months but three weeks before the deadline when forms must be submitted, people do not know what they are signing up to. This morning we heard about the insurance implications. We did not have the time to consider them because the legislation was rammed through so quickly. With three weeks to register, people have no idea what they will pay, what the cost will be to run Irish Water and how the 49% of water leaking will be reduced. People also have fears in regard to the handing over of personal data. These issues are as relevant today as they were when they were first raised.

In the past week, Irish Water has for the third time issued a new data protection statement which is buried in its website. It hardly measures up to the requirement of facilitating informed consent. A letter sent to me by the former Data Protection Commissioner states that the Water Services Act was designed so as to circumvent existing data protection legislation, meaning that normal restrictions which would and should apply have in the case of Irish Water been set aide. Even some of the Taoiseach's backbenchers are advising people not to include their PPS numbers on the Irish Water form. Clearly, they do not have confidence in Irish Water's ability to securely handle that personal data. Does the Taoiseach have confidence? Does he accept there are legitimate concerns in regard to the requirement to hand over PPS numbers? Will he end that process? Does he agree that asking people to register for something which they have no idea how much it will cost is deeply unfair? Does the Taoiseach have confidence in Irish Water?

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