Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not agreed. Again, we object to the manner in which the Government is ramming this through the House. In particular, as I outlined earlier, the substance of the issue has to do with Irish Water and the method of extracting charges from people and also, essentially, the transfer of €540 million from property taxes to Irish Water. I object to the idea the Government would only allow an hour for the discussion of amendments that have been brought in for the first time. These are very substantive measures in themselves that relate to registration and, in some instances, could potentially criminalise citizens in terms of the whole water registration process. There are many people who are confused in regard to that entire issue and they are getting advice left, right and centre.

The Government is tomorrow bringing in substantial and lengthy amendments on the water conservation grant database, the amendment at section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014, the payment of charge on sale of property, the registration with Irish Water, and so on. The Taoiseach said that debate was being recommitted for one hour and that would be sufficient to deal with the substance of all of this. It is treating the House in farcical manner to be going about one's business this way. I cannot understand why from the outset everything to do with Irish Water has been rammed through the House, from 2012 onwards and without debate. It ends up causing the Government more difficulty and trouble than if it had gone about it in a more transparent, open and up-front manner. Essentially, very serious issues to do with Irish Water and the extraction of water charges are being smuggled through on Report Stage of an Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill tomorrow in about an hour, and that is essentially what is being put before the House. I object to that.

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