Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is a very difficult situation and it has become increasingly difficult to solve the problems. One does not know where to send people. Tenants will be in a difficult position because the landlord is the enforcer and he or she will lean on the tenant. The responsibility will be carried over from one tenancy to another. I have seen it happen with electricity bills and other utility bills such as gas. The situation could give rise to all types of problems. The meters have not come into effect yet. If a stand-alone house with an address of No. 1 Bridge Street is rented out, when the meter is in use, what will happen if a tenant moves out in the middle of March? It is unlikely that Irish Water will send someone to read one meter. What will happen in such a case? Then a dispute could arise over how many gallons of water had been used at the point at which the tenant left. There is no provision for a new tenant to read the meter. At least with electricity meters a person can open the box housing the meter with a little triangular key and read the meter but that is not the case with water meters. I cannot read the meter and tenants in private rented accommodation will not be able to read them. The situation will cause havoc in the private rented sector. I appeal to the Minister to withdraw the proposal.

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