Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It was probably very clear from the outset that we were not going to reach a consensus but everyone came to it hoping that we could. Everyone came to it with very genuine intentions and it is only fair that we recognise that point. It is only fair also that we recognise that at the end of the 22 meetings we had recommendations composed of eight sections. In the current back and forth of the debate, we are not focusing on what we have all agreed. There were only four paragraphs in the report which divided the committee. If those four paragraphs could have been resolved, we would have had a report before this House that had the unanimous support of the committee. While they are only four paragraphs, they go to the very heart of the debate on the future funding of water services.

Some people will say this is a defeat for the anti-water charges movement. I do not agree. Some of the provisions in the report are welcome. The referendum is to be welcomed, as is the fairness and equity. People who either willingly or were bullied into paying charges in the past will be refunded. The issue of conservation is something on which we are all agreed. However, there were areas where we could not agree.

It is not for me to judge whether Fianna Fáil did a flip flop. I have an opinion on it, but it is not me who will make that judgment. As the general public will make the judgment at the next general election, I will leave it up to them. They are intelligent enough to know what each political party promised before an election and what they will deliver. However, the proof will be in the baking of the cake, which is the legislation. There are differences of opinion even among those who supported the report. Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael supported it but there are clear differences about how we measure water. There is an analysis from Fianna Fáil that it will be done on an individual basis, regardless of the household composition, while it is clear that Fine Gael is looking to the household composition. There will be challenges in drafting the legislation.

This debate will continue when the legislation is brought before the House. The campaign to abolish water charges in total is not over, because the abolition of water charges has not been achieved. In 90% of cases people will not pay for water, but some people will continue to pay. The excessive use charge is obviously a big issue that divided the committee. The metering programme also divided it. Last Thursday, there was a consensus on metering which I believed would have complied with the Water Framework Directive. That was the legal advice given to us that day. Unfortunately, that legal advice changed over the weekend. I will not question or second guess the senior counsel, but one cannot argue with the fact that we received two sets of differing legal opinion from the individual on the same report. He is the only person who can explain why he did that.

I do not wish a narrative to be conveyed that this is a defeat for the hundreds of thousands of people who took to the streets over the last three years. There has been some progress and some achievements. It is the job of Right2Water Deputies to ensure the matters we support, such as the referendum, the equity and fairness, the refunds and the conservation measures, are reflected in the legislation. We will vigorously oppose the provisions we do not agree with when the legislation is brought before the House.

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