Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government listened very carefully to the many thousands of people who expressed their anxiety and concern and reduced the charges to a very modest contribution of €1.15 and €3 per week. The Cabinet will consider and decide on the propositions from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in terms of the legislation to ensure full compliance here.

As Deputy Adams is aware, the prices have been set out to 2019 and no other utility facility has been priced in that way with regard to water rates. For the people all over the country, the 1.29 million who have signed up, the compliant number of those who are Irish Water customers, they have a sense that this is an important element of our country moving forward. For those who decide that they will not pay, they are not being fair to those who understand that water is a precious commodity. To have high quality water and proper sewerage schemes requires investment on a major scale and it cannot be done under the discredited system that we have had for the last 40 years.

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