Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Since its initial proposal, the prospect of water charges has infuriated ordinary people the length and breadth of this country. People came together and revolted against this unjust tax and took to the streets in their tens of thousands. The effectiveness and the potential of people power in any social movement for change has never been so glaringly demonstrated. Hundreds of thousands of people took their anger to the ballot boxes, and in February this year, the majority of people voted to scrap water charges and to place Irish Water in the dustbin of history. Figures recently released show that 36% of people have not paid their water charges over the past 12 months and Irish Water failed to collect almost 50% of its projected income from the charge. According to information received via a freedom of information request, domestic revenue due for 2015 was €271 million. However, the yield was only €144.2 million, just over half. It is beyond farcical at this stage and such figures are indicative of the mass of people opposed to this unfair tax and who will not pay in any circumstances.

Most of the Members elected in February made pre-election pledges to abolish water charges and to do away with the entity known as Irish Water, even Fianna Fáil. However, in the new deal stuck between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the party has only managed to secure a suspension. People do not want a suspension. They want these charges scrapped altogether. Irish Water and water charges are an affront to people across this land. It is time for Government, therefore, to respect the democratic will of the people and to end this shambolic situation once and for all. It should abolish domestic water charges immediately, establish a public water and sanitation board to deliver water on the basis of need, and set a date for a referendum to enshrine the public ownership of water services in Bunreacht na hÉireann. I call on all Deputies to vote in favour of the motion.

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