Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Government is using this legislation in the media to threaten and intimidate people into believing they must pay their water charges because the Government will be able to deduct it directly from their social welfare payments and wages, which is not true. It is clear the Government does not want a real debate but is happy that the media uses the legislation in that way. The legislation is quite toothless and will not be able to deal with a mass boycott of water charges. It might be able to deal with a television licence not being paid but it will not be able to deal with the hundreds of thousands who will not pay the water charges. It would be better to have a debate on this on a normal day when people would be present for both the debate and the vote.

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