Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am obviously underwhelmed by the Taoiseach's response. There is popular support for this referendum, as the Taoiseach is well aware. Many Right to Change and Right to Water activists signed and campaigned for this. The reason there was such an intense and strong opposition to the installation of meters in communities was that there was an understanding that every meter installed brought us one step closer to privatisation. Practically every party and group in the Dáil has spoken in favour of this Bill, and during the debate on the Water Services Bill last week nearly every Deputy spoke on this referendum. The Taoiseach has stated that this referendum is not urgent. The question of excess water is on the agenda of Fine Gael's Water Services Bill, however. It is not in the form of a fine as agreed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil at committee; it is now in the form of a payment. The Bill also gives the Minister the right to reduce the excessive water limit in five years' time. We know that big multinationals are out there waiting to take our water and they are willing to wait a long time for it. It is really crucial, then, that this country enshrines the right to a public water system into our Constitution for future generations. It should be done.

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