Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak in this very important debate on the major issue of water and on the broader issue of public services and the huge hardship our people are suffering. I am amazed that this Government still does not get the message despite the huge protests and marches and the widespread suffering in broader society. It has also failed to see the huge hurt and anger at what is happening in this country. It is up to all of us in this House to stand by these people and not look the other way on this issue.

This issue is bigger and broader than just water. When a Government resorts to threatening and intimidating its own people to appease unwanted and overfunded quangos like Irish Water there is something seriously wrong in Irish politics. There is something seriously wrong in Irish society. Is it now the intention of the Government to attempt to take more payments for water, already paid in general and other taxes and squandered by incompetent politicians, from the pensions of our elderly, the social welfare payments of our poor and the wages of our struggling workers? Such a group of struggling workers were in this House today. I speak of the Dunnes Stores workers who are being hammered in respect of their working hours and their rates of pay. It reminds me of my history lessons about how we dealt with 1913. Now this Government wants to dip into their pockets and take more money from them. We also need to highlight the issue of the exploitation of lower paid workers in this society.

This motion highlights the fact that the water charges are another tax arising from the bailout of major banks, bondholders, developers and the European financial markets following their disastrous gambling on the property bubble in pursuit of profits. We also need to highlight the fact that the Labour Party was elected on a platform of opposing the imposition of water charges.

There is massive opposition to the imposition of water charges and to any steps towards the privatisation of the water supply. In broader society there has been the harsh reality of cuts to blind children and cuts to the respite care grant and the Government still wonders why the people are angry and why they are fed up with it. It is an absolute scandal and we need to face up to the fact that there is a complete lack of equality or social justice in this country. I am not the only person saying this. The European anti-poverty network in Ireland stated in a recent report that 1.4 million people, almost 31% of the population, suffered from deprivation. One quarter of the population cannot afford to heat their own homes adequately. Some 37% of children suffer deprivation.

The worst deprivation was felt by lone parents, the unemployed and people not at work through illness or disability. That is the stark reality, yet the Government wants to dip into their pockets again.

The numbers at risk of poverty, that is, below 60% of median income, have fallen slightly, although they are still above 2008 levels. The number experiencing consistent poverty has doubled since 2008 to 8.2%, while the Government needs to remove nearly 193,000 people from poverty and halve the current number to meet its target of 4% for 2016. That is what is happening in broader society. The Government and mainstream political parties ask from where the money will be obtained and how services can be funded. According to the Department of Finance, the top 1%, or 21,650, of earners have an annual gross income of €8.7 billion, with average earnings of €403,703 per year, or more than ten times the average industrial wage. Also, according to the Revenue Commissioners' latest available statistics, corporate profits are also increasing, with gross trade profits increasing to €73.8 billion in 2011, up from €70.8 billion. There is wealth in the country, but there seems to be a lack of emphasis in challenging that wealth.

I strongly support the motion. We have to make a decision and stand up for the people, raise this issue and create a proper, fair and equitable society.

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