Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to steer away from engaging in theatrics or giving lectures. At the beginning of 2014, it was predicted that the Government would have to take a further €2 billion out of the economy. Around the middle of the year, the debate shifted and the figure changed to between €1 billion and €2 billion. The October budget resulted in €1 billion being put into the economy. It would have been simple to reduce this figure and instead continue to impose more tax on work, rather than reducing tax on employment and endeavour. Put simply, this would have meant continuing to treat the water service as we have always done by putting a sticking plaster on the problem that requires substantial investment to solve.

I will draw an analogy with the ESB, which I would not describe as a quango in contrast to others who consider all commercial semi-State companies to be quangos. If the ESB had remained fully in State ownership, which would require all of its investment to come from capital investment, would Hewlett Packard, Intel or any of the other major corporations which provide significant employment have located here? These companies need water and I am not prepared to walk down to Professor Honohan's office and tear up bonds believing I will be able to borrow the money we need to service the deficit every year. If people want to take that risk, that is fine, but I am not prepared to engage in that bluff.

Members of the public have articulated concerns through protest and contacting their public representatives. I propose to put this issue in context. There are 2.2 million households in this State, of which 600,000 or more than 25% are not and will not become customers of Irish Water. They will continue to do what they have done for years, namely, provide their own water. If there is no water flowing from their taps, they must pay to have it fixed, and the same applies in the case of their wastewater systems. Under the water framework directives and new rules introduced by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, private septic tanks must be emptied either every 18 months or two years. People have always paid the cost of emptying their septic tanks, which averages €350. Listening to some of the rhetoric of recent weeks, one would be led to believe these people did not exist.

Two red herrings, privatisation and PPS numbers, have been produced in this debate. I hope the Ceann Comhairle allows me to show my driver's licence. When I had to replace my licence, I had to give my PPS number to the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, which is an agency.

I wanted my licence so I gave them my PPS number.

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