Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a Government, we have made some difficult and unpopular decisions over the last three years but we also realise our constituents, who put us in Government, made the biggest sacrifices. They have helped us to turn the country's finances around, oversee the departure of the troika and lower the unemployment rate. Our growth figures are now the envy of Europe. When we entered Government three years ago, this country was broke and borrowing €22 billion per year. This year we will borrow €5 billion, a reduction of €17 billion or nearly 80%.

I decided to enter politics to represent Fine Gael at the last election for a number of reasons. I believed that Fine Gael could save the country from financial ruin and I wanted to make a difference for my constituency. I am proud to say this Government, along with those who put us here, brought this great country back from the brink of financial ruin and despair. The Irish people never want to go back to the boom and bust cycles of the previous Government or the fantasy economics policies of our opponents. They expect to pay for nothing and have the Government pay for everything. That is unrealistic and it demonstrates their populist policies and the fact that they will promise anything to get into power.

I am the first to admit that we have made mistakes but we have listened to the people and understand the pressures they face. Economic recovery has happened through the sacrifices made by the people. We have made water charges both affordable and simple. People now have the clarity and certainty they deserve. After the water conservation grant, water charges will be capped annually at €60 for single adult households and €160 for other households, or between €1 and €3 per week. These are the lowest charges in Europe. They highlight the affordability of water charges in Ireland and the commitment of this Government to ensuring charges are equitable and fair. I welcome that affordability will underpin all future Government policies on water charges. Legislation will be introduced to ensure the cap remains in place after 2019. We have listened to the people in this regard, and future Ministers will have the power to set caps that are acceptable to the people.

It must not be forgotten that our water system is broken and in urgent need of investment. In County Roscommon, 21,000 people have been on boil water notices for six or seven years. The greater Dublin area is in a difficult situation, whereby over 40% of all water treated is lost through leaks in the system. A national water utility is the only realistic way to facilitate improvements to our water system. Water is a precious resource and we must do everything in our power to protect future generation. The focus on water conservation has to remain. Irish water investment programmes will stop the leaks, ensure everybody has good, clean water and that the country has the water infrastructure it needs to secure investment and a growth economy. In County Louth, investments have been made in the Cooley regional water supply scheme and further investments are planned for the Drogheda and Ardee water supply schemes, as well as the Ardee and Dundalk sewerage schemes and the Dundalk and Drogheda waste water treatment plants. Conservation is vital and metering is key to this.

Meters mean that people can beat the cap and pay less for their water through conservation. Moreover, they are essential to the detection and fixing of leaks.

I welcome the Government's confirmation that Irish Water is and always will remain a publicly-owned utility. That commitment will be cemented in legislation by requiring any change in this regard to be put to the people by way of a plebiscite. Put simply, there will be no privatisation without the consent of the Irish people. Other issues that were causing genuine concern to my constituents have been likewise dealt with by the Minister. Irish Water will no longer require householders' PPS numbers and documentation already submitted with that information will be destroyed. I welcome, too, the decision that bonuses will not be paid to Irish Water staff. I urge colleagues on the other side of the House to stop scaremongering and instead present the facts to their constituents.

After years of under-investment and neglect, we finally have a scheme that will ensure our water services are fit for purposes. It will ensure our citizens and future generations have a safe and reliable water supply. History will show that the very difficult decisions this Government has taken and the sacrifices Irish people have made were instrumental in securing our vital natural resources.

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