Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I will start by focusing on amendment No. 18, which states:

In page 9, line 26, to delete “State.”.” and substitute the following:

“State.

(6) The Minister shall report to Dáil Éireann within six months of this Act coming into effect on the feasibility of implementing a public information campaign, and education campaign in schools and third level institutions on the preservation of water.”.”.

We know, and the majority of the people know, that the real agenda behind the water charges was the agenda of privatisation. The Government denies this and maintains it is all about conservation. Is the Government serious about conservation? If the Government is serious about conservation, it could not possibly oppose the idea of an education programme on conservation issues aimed in particular at young people. We rejected the water charges, and we reject water charges through the back door in the form of the excessive use charge. We are for conservation and the amendment is a practical conservation measure. We put it up to the Government. Is the Government prepared to support it?

Earlier in the discussion a particular point was raised about the amendments. A large number of amendments have been proposed and many have been ruled out of order. Others are being debated tonight. The point was made that the Fianna Fáil Deputies were not involved as much as some other Deputies believed they could have or should have been on Committee Stage in putting down amendments. The reason is that the Fianna Fáil amendments were put down behind closed doors. This legislation is the result of a deal that has been hammered out by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. It is a joint production in that sense. The two Civil War parties are joined together tonight in supporting legislation that leaves a door open for water charges.

The legislation amounts to water charges through the back door. The excessive use charge is set at 1.7 times the average usage and will catch 8% of households. However, in five years' time the Dáil can lower the 1.7 multiplier catching more and more households in that net and in that way introduce water charges through the back door.

I know that the Fianna Fáil Deputies have been a little sensitive in the debate tonight about the criticism.

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