Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

He disclosed to the House that the Minister has yet to put a proposal to the Cabinet but he refused to outline the legal basis for the process which he wholeheartedly supports. That would seem strange to most people but in Enda land the absurd presents itself as a form of government. In Enda land, we heard this morning that water charge bills will be issued by Irish Water to citizens who are not its customers. In Enda land, bills will also be issued to households which have undrinkable water, including those who have to boil their water. In Enda land, 150,000 properties with a private well and a sceptic tank will be billed by Irish Water. All of these citizens will be billed for a service they do not receive and the Taoiseach fully supports a process of deducting these bills from their wages, pensions or social welfare payments. Surely the Taoiseach will agree that is worthy of Flann O'Brien at his best. It would be laughable except that it is causing huge confusion and further anger.

Why should this concern the Taoiseach or the hecklers on his back benches? It is not their money because the taxpayers will be footing the bill for the bills they are being sent for a service they will not receive. In Enda land, €85 million of taxpayers' money was paid to private consultants for their advice. How on earth are citizens to have any faith in the Government's water charges policy or, indeed, in the Government itself when those entrusted with running water services cannot even get the basics right?

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