Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Cowen was not in government at the time but still supported the Government. Deputies voted to transfer responsibility for water services provision from local authorities to a water utility and to prepare proposals for implementation, as appropriate, with a view to commencing charges in 2012-13. All of that happened after 1997, when the parties in government decided to abolish water charges. There is a kind of ping pong and, not unlike a Beckett play, people repeat themselves, carry out the same actions as a previous character and say the same things. There is a lot of repetition and farce involved. That has been the history of the provision of water services in this State until now.

I will not defend Irish Water and the manner in which it was introduced, no more than Deputy Kelleher will defend what he voted for-----

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