Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

From listening to the debate, this path has been well trodden. We have heard all of the arguments why it is unacceptable to the majority that people should pay for domestic water supplies a second time. The Minister of State is right that nothing is free. Yes, things have to be paid for. Those of us in elected office need to identify from where the moneys will come. That is entirely reasonable and it has been said 100 times. As has been reflected on, people have come out onto the streets repeatedly in their tens of thousands to make it clear that charging for domestic water supplies is a bridge too far. Sometimes people talk about those who will not pay. There are many people who, as a matter of principle, will not pay water charges. However, there is a far bigger proportion who simply cannot pay. I know them, as must the Minister of State because they live in our communities and constituencies.

Today there is very much a sense of dejà vu. The Government is holding fast to the position of Fine Gael of imposing domestic water charges. One presumes the Independents in government go along with this line. Despite conceding the fact that Irish Water and domestic water charges were an unholy mess and a disaster, it seems the Labour Party, too, is sticking to its position of imposing domestic water charges. Fianna Fáil, on the other hand, flip flops. The question has been asked: where does it stand? What is its policy? I believe its position is actually very clear. It has a policy of prevarication, delay and deception. That is where it stands on the issue. For anyone who was in any doubt before today, let there be no doubt now. The motion is very straightforward. It simply states Dáil Éireann resolves to abolish domestic water charges and fund water and sanitation services through progressive general taxation. There is nothing ambiguous or unclear about it; it is as clear as water.

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