John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting that a Europe-wide survey released last week found that almost two thirds of Irish people were struggling to pay their household bills. This was a finding of the Eurobarometer report. Since last week Ireland has been ranked the fifth highest in the European Union in people admitting to struggling to cover their typical household costs during the past 12 months. This is at a time when the economy is supposed to be recovering and things are supposed to be getting better. The survey was carried out of households during the past 12 months. We all know that the average household budget has taken a hammering since the recession began and that the Government's austerity policies have crippled what little remaining spending power families have.

People dread the 2 million or so water bills that are due to start coming through letter boxes shortly. Many of us have spoken ad nauseamin the Dáil about the disillusionment among the population at the cost of establishing Irish Water, with senior management earning bonuses of up to 9%, even if they were assessed as needing improvement. That was outrageous. Senior staff were receiving an annual car allowance of €10,000 and health insurance cover worth up €2,700 a year, yet the controversies continue to surface. We have now heard that no notes or records were kept of over half of all crucial meetings regarding Irish Water between the former Minister, Mr. Phil Hogan, and Bord Gais during which many key issues were considered.

The public is expected to accept that the Commission of Energy Regulation, CER, which oversees Irish Water now needs €900,000 for advice on how to regulate the utility in the next two years. Is the Government serious about this? Serious questions need to be asked about the well paid advisers who stood by while successive Governments failed to address the 19th century water infrastructure and ran down the existing service by reducing funding. Fianna Fáil Deputies who were part of these Governments also need to explain why outdated treatment plants that are causing almost 150 pollution incidents every year were not modernised while they were in office at the height of the boom. Many councils that had sought funding to deal with this problem were refused it.

More than €300 million has been invested in the utility, which equates to 21% of the money committed by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, to date. My understanding is that the fund was established to earn a return for commercial investment. This suggests the Government foresees a viable return from Irish Water in the future from the €50 million that has gone into Irish Water. I would like to hear the views of the Government on this. It is incredible that 21% of the money committed to the ISIF has gone into it.

Irish Water is one of the reasons badly needed public funds are being diverted from more productive uses. I can think of better uses for €50 million. It would cost approximately that amount to provide free medical cards to every child who has cancer. I wonder where our priorities lie.

Inequality has never been much of an issue with this Government. Analysis released last week by the Nevin Economic Research Institute found that one quarter of employees earn an hourly wage which is less than the living wage of €11.45 an hour. We all know that low pay is endemic and entrenched in the economy. Firing out statistics that so many people have registered and might pay is irrelevant in two senses. I know thousands of people who have registered but will not pay. Does the Minister seriously think the people who have paid are delighted to do so and to pay double taxation? The Government is taking advantage of people who consider themselves to be decent people and law-abiding citizens and, through fear, intimidation or otherwise, feel they must pay. This does not mean they agree with it. The Government is kidding itself if it thinks that is the case, and it will find that out shortly after a general election is called. Apart from the hundreds of thousands of people marching because of distress, fear, intimidation and because they do not want to pay, there is a huge silent majority, many of whom have paid, who will come after the Government parties in the next general election.

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