Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept the Deputy's interpretation of why we proposed the introduction of domestic water charges but that is a debate that has finished and we are discussing the Bill which is before us.

To put aside the 1.7 and the excessive use charge, the essence of this Bill is conservation. Every investment we make in our infrastructure will help us in that. There are already a number of measures underway, some of which I have mentioned, which relate to conservation and further safeguards have been put in place in this Bill in relation to the forum and the advisory body to advise the Government but also report back to the House on how that plan is being implemented and if further conservation measures were deemed necessary in the future, what they might be. Therefore I cannot accept the two amendments.

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