Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Less than a year ago the Government was pushing through legislation with claims that it would herald a new and positive era for water services. The speeches we are now hearing were last heard a year ago. Speaker after speaker from the Government benches hailed their visionary leadership and claimed that everything would be transparent and fair and earn public confidence. Instead, however, they sapped confidence. After the latest of a dozen U-turns and a massive climb-down, we are still left with charges for a flawed service and an expensive, unnecessary and arrogant bureaucracy. We have the absurd situation whereby €500 million is to be spent on installing meters which no longer have a purpose. I ask the Government to stop using the fig leaf it introduced today. This is a scandalous waste of money. I challenge the Taoiseach to ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to report on the establishment costs of Irish Water and investigate the awarding of contracts and the whole idea of installing water meters without carrying out due diligence in advance. This a very serious issue, given that €500 million will not be used. Do not bluff us with the €60 charge or the claim that someone will save something under that amount.

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