Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Neither I nor my party believes the motion signals a new beginning for Irish Water as the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, and the Government claimed. It should signal an end to Irish Water and water charges, but, regrettably, it does not. Instead, it simply demonstrates that the Government is running scared as the announcement made yesterday on water charges indicates clearly that Fine Gael and the Labour Party are quaking in their boots at the thought of a hammering in the ballot box. The changes did not go far enough and the Government has not listened to the people.

People do not want concessions on water charges; rather, they simply cannot afford more costs after the litany of other costs that have been imposed on them in this era of relentless austerity. The Government is trying to backpedal to correct the mistakes made during the introduction of water charges, but it is too little and far too late. Whatever strategy it has for Irish Water has failed miserably. Communication with the public has been atrocious at best and non-existent at worst. The Government has made an absolute mess of this issue, but what is the alternative?

Sinn Féin would scrap Irish Water in its current form as it is toxic and discredited. We would put in place a new public body which would be accountable to the Minister and the Oireachtas and with a greater input from local authorities. This body would oversee and implement a capital investment programme and Sinn Féin would direct the bulk of resources towards fixing leaking pipes. It would not have wasted €700 million on meters that are now redundant and on the corporate beast that is Irish Water. We would continue the roll-out of neighbourhood meters because this has proved effective and efficient in detecting leaks. Building regulations would be changed to incorporate water conservation measures such as dual-flush toilets in all new buildings. Sinn Féin would remove fluoride from water to save money and protect people's health. This is what has been done in the North and 98% of Europe and we should follow suit.

I have outlined measures to save money. This is what Sinn Féin is about: stopping waste. We would continue to fund it through the Local Government Fund and commercial water rates, almost half of which remain uncollected year-on-year, another issue that needs to be dealt with. We would also use the Government's capital investment programme, which has been underspent in recent years.

What the Government has proposed remains far off the mark. It is creating an illusion, like a three card trick. The Government is giving people back their own money to try to get them to buy in to something they simply do not want. The sum of €95 million is less than 9% of what is needed to run Irish Water, that is, €1.2 billion. The real agenda is about upping the charge after the next election. People know that the only way for this charge is up.

The Minister said he wants his legacy to be one of achievement not destruction. Surely the Minister and his colleagues in government must know that their legacy will not only be one of destruction but of angered impoverished struggling citizens. An economic recovery that only benefits the well-off and the desecration of the fabric of our society are two further legacies of this incompetent Government. The Government need not be under any illusion: the people have seen through the spin and they know that it has let them down. That is why public anger is so widespread.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, has said he will legislate to ensure future governments will have to hold a referendum to hand over water services from public to private ownership. Legislation can be changed at any time by any government. That is not good enough. There are two messages on which I will finish. First, scrap of water charges. Second, initiate a referendum to keep water services under public control. Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for the abolition of water charges.

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