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

Yesterday evening, we received the long-awaited report of the commission on the future of water charges. I welcome aspects of the report, particularly the call for constitutional protection to keep our water services in public ownership. Sinn Féin has long argued for that. I also welcome the commission's recognition that the best way to pay for general domestic water usage is through general taxation. Sinn Féin has long argued that case also. The report rightly recommends fair treatment for those on group water schemes and those who paid the Government's water charge. In Sinn Féin's view, this means no domestic charges for those on such schemes or those with their own water sources and involves refunding those who paid the Government's water charges to date but - and this is a big "but" - we do not support the commission's proposal for a charge on so-called excessive use. This, in reality, is simply a rehash of the original Fianna Fáil-Green Party proposal devised in 2009 and it would inevitably lead to the introduction of across-the-board water charges in the future. A low charge now to soften the blow before hiking charges in the future is how the story goes and that is not acceptable. Given Fine Gael's and, indeed, Fianna Fáil's track record on water charges, how could anyone trust them not to increase water charges in the future? The Minister's colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government said as much this morning. He stated, "No water charges for the moment".

Having flip flopped from one position to another more times than I care to remember, we learned this morning that Fianna Fáil is proposing to introduce a super-tax of combined water charges and property tax. A super-tax from super-Fianna Fáil. Sinn Féin is committed to scrapping both. In any event, the report acknowledges that determining what is excessive water usage would be extremely difficult to calculate. It is also highly likely that the cost of administering and enforcing such a scheme would be greater than the revenue that might be realised. Let us be clear that citizens have demanded no water charges through the front door or through the back door.

In light of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government's statement this morning, is it the Government's intention to pursue those who did not or who could not pay its water charges? If so, will this be done through the courts, the Revenue or deductions from social welfare payments? Will the Government act to enshrine water services in public ownership? Will the Minister commit today to a referendum being held in respect of this matter in the future?

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