Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all those who have been involved in drawing up this report. It is a useful piece of work done under the chairmanship of Mr. Kevin Duffy and it shows that a great deal of expertise was brought to bear on the issue. The report allows us to have a genuine conversation about the future of water. The Deputy has selectively picked parts that she likes and chosen to ignore others. What we now have to do in the political environment that exists is use the committee that has been established, and on which Sinn Féin is represented, to tease out the issues that have been highlighted. How do we ensure that genuine people who did their civic duty are treated equally and not put at a disadvantage in respect of this matter? We equally must examine how we might deal with the fact that there is in the legislation an absolute assurance that no change in ownership can occur without a plebiscite. We have to decide whether we need to go further than that. The Deputy has expressed her view, but I am certainly content to wait for the committee to tease out this matter. The commission has also made it clear that it believes the polluter pays principle, which is at the heart of a great deal of thinking about the use of water, would be met by making normal usage free. That would be decided by an independent regulator, not the Government.

Where people are using manifestly excessive amounts of water, that would be paid for. There is a large element of fairness in that.

Much of the discussion during the general election campaign focused on the need to bring about greater fairness and to ensure that our economic success would be used in a fairer way. Making sure that we use resources in a fair way has been at the heart of the thinking of the new Government. The commission has pointed the way to some elements of how water should be dealt with in a fair way. These elements include the principle of the polluter pays. They also include ensuring that no person who did his or her civic duty and paid up will be left at a disadvantage. They further include, as the Deputy rightly says, that those who are involved in group schemes and other schemes will not be placed at a disadvantage. That is very valuable food for thought.

I am content to work within the committee. Fine Gael members will work with others on the committee to find a sensible route forward for a resource that is immensely important to our social and economic progress and which needs an investment in the near term of €5.5 billion and in the longer term, according to Irish Water, one of €13 billion. We need to have a sustainable approach. It will not be achieved by individual parties grandstanding and saying they are going to stand on this ground and not consider any other opportunities or options. We have to behave in accordance with the way we were elected. We are legislators. We have to deliberate on what has been provided to us as expert opinion and draw conclusions collectively. That is what I look forward to doing.

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