Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach needs to understand that citizens are sick to the teeth of relentless austerity and being patronised, as well as the endless list of taxes and charges aimed at those on low and middle incomes. For many of them, the water tax is the final straw. That is why we have seen huge numbers of citizens on the streets protesting within communities. To be honest, the numbers on the streets surprised us all. As someone who has been involved in street protests right back to the civil rights days, I can say that the current protests were spontaneous and organic. That is what is dangerous because the people have eventually risen up. They have not been organised in a rent-a-mob fashion; they have been out there because that was the straw that broke their backs.

The Taoiseach claims he does not envisage the privatisation of water services. If that is true, why does he not support the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 3) Bill 2014, which Sinn Féin has brought forward? It seeks to ensure the rights of all persons to safe, sufficient and accessible water, and that all water services and infrastructure remain in public ownership. Why does the Taoiseach not support it? He knows that any move to privatise water would ensure even greater charges for consumers than those already suggested.

In the North - the Taoiseach often mentions the North, usually in a disparaging way to try to score some strange political point - we prevented the introduction of water charges. We stood up to the Tory government in London and prevented the privatisation of water services. We will continue to do so.

The constitutional amendment Bill put forward by Teachta Stanley allows for a referendum to retain control of water services in public ownership. Is the Taoiseach afraid of the people? Does he not want to give the people a say? Will he not trust them to take a good decision on this issue? He will not. There has been no satisfactory explanation of his reluctance to hold a referendum on water ownership beyond the fact that Fine Gael are the political champions of privatisation. It is Fine Gael's writ that runs this coalition. Fine Gael runs this Government and Labour is there as an appendage.

The reason for all the Taoiseach's twisting and turning, all the contradictory statements, and all the leaking, spinning and kite-flying about all the figures that were put forward, is now very clear. The Taoiseach completely underestimated the determination of ordinary citizens to resist the imposition of water charges. He has been forced to turn, back off, hollow out and back down again and again on his plans. He has dismissed and patronised people, which is offensive. He talks down to citizens and dismisses their real concerns.

They have clearly said that water charges should be abolished and that the right to water should be guaranteed. The mass demonstrations have not been about demanding a lower amount that the Taoiseach intends to charge. The people have not asked him to give them sweeteners or offer them bribes. The response from the Taoiseach and Tánaiste has been absolutely mind-boggling.

Gabh mo leithscéal, tá an t-urlár agam.

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