Dáil debates

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed)

 

1:55 pm

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the change in the water charges. As the Minister said, mistakes were made but they have been rectified. There will be an opportunity for people to pay the charges at different stages through the post office. I also welcome the fact that people will be able to seek money back.

I commend those citizens who peacefully made their concerns known to the Government. I join with the Minister in condemning the protests which involved intimidation and harassment of Irish Water workers involved in the meter installation programme. They are young men and women who are doing their job, yet they are being treated with contempt. These men and women get up every morning to do a day's work, but they are being intimidated by those who believe they can deprive others of their right to do a job.

I also condemn the non-peaceful protests at the weekend which targeted the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection. There was nothing peaceful about this process which demonstrated deliberate intimidation, including throwing missiles. A member of the Minister's staff was with her at the time. The young woman told me herself that she was terrified. I utterly condemn the thugs and gurriers who slighted decent communities with their mindless acts of abuse and intimidation.

I call on those people who are going to march in future, including those peaceful people who marched in Jobstown, that the next time violence and thuggery are involved they should take their children and walk away. They should get as far away as they can from these thugs and gurriers because that is all they are.

I commend the men and women of the Garda Síochána who uphold the law in this country. For a very long time previous Governments ignored what was under the ground. Their attitude was "out of sight, out of mind". As a result, they completely neglected the country's underground water system. It is about time we got our act together. I came into this Chamber for one reason, which was to do my best as a public representative and protect those who cannot protect themselves.

It is insulting to hear some of the comments that are fired across the Chamber by people who believe they can take the law into their own hands and do what they like.

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