Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is welcome that everybody supports the Bill and I thank Deputy Joan Collins for using her Private Members' time to bring it forward.

I will, first, address the fact that there is a fundamental lack of trust in the Government on this issue. Legislation aside, people believe access to water is a fundamental and basic human right and they are reluctant to take at its word a Government that tells us it is committed to the public health service while at the same time channelling taxpayers' money into the National Treatment Purchase Fund. That is privatisation which is not good for public services. I am sure, therefore, that the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, will understand why there is a deficit of trust on this issue.

It is welcome that every Member who has contributed to the debate so far has spoken in favour of a constitutional amendment to ensure the strongest possible protection of water services and address the real concerns expressed by citizens in advance of the last general election. There are many Right2Water representatives in the Dáil. We were elected on a number of platforms, one being the protection of water services from what people saw as a real threat of privatisation. They fear the intent was to privatise water services. They rightly have that fear.

It is welcome that the Labour Party supports the Bill. I recall my constituency colleague, Deputy Brendan Ryan, telling me in advance of the general election that there was no need for a constitutional referendum on this issue because the legislation in place was strong enough, a view which I did not support at the time. As I said, it is welcome that the Labour Party is supporting the Bill and that there is cross-party support for it. It is important that we act on it and that we ensure the protection of water services provided for therein is as strong as possible.

See this speech in context