Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have a few moments in which to speak to the motion on Irish Water. Yesterday was a great day for the country and its people, not just Irish Water. It was also a great day for democracy. I welcome the clarification brought to the issue by the Government and my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. As a fellow Tipperary man, I congratulate him. He has nothing to worry about now and has every vote in Tipperary secured. I am sure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's colleagues across the way are delighted to know this. That will, in turn, put pressure on us, but I say "well done" to him and his colleagues in government. They have brought a sense of affordability and clarity to the Irish Water proposals, making the issue simple. It is now understandable and people know that under the capped system, the maximum they will have to spend is €1 per week for a single person and €3 per week for two or more people in a family. That is a relief as it has been appalling how the Opposition has terrorised older people, in particular, putting the fear of God into them and upsetting them seriously in the past few months.

Yesterday was also a good day for democracy as the Government was seen to listen to the people. It was a good day for us as backbenchers, despite the comments of my good colleague, Deputy Dara Calleary, who showed concern about Fine Gael backbenchers. Fear not, as Fine Gael backbenchers are a very resolute group. We are in it for the long haul and do not scare too easily.

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