Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I would say to the Minister that phase 1 will not be concluded. He is now approaching the areas where there are big communities who are opposed to the imposition of water meters who will simply not accept them. The Government will have to make a choice, and Irish Water will make a choice, as to whether it will push ahead against the opposition of these communities even when it has suspended water charges. It would be madness for the Government to do so.

The talk of conservation is a cover. Water meters are not about conservation, they are about charging for water and about pushing privatisation in the future and privatisation over the revenue stream. According to Irish Water figures, extrapolating them to the full imposition of water meters, we are talking about 3% of water being saved, that is, 3% out of 41% of water that is lost. That is where we need investment in our water infrastructure and that is also where Deputy Coveney, as the Minister with responsibility for housing, needs to change the building regulations in terms of grey water harvesting, rainwater harvesting and dual flush toilets being mandatory for the new builds that are taking place. That is where it would make a difference in terms of water conservation.

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