Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's responses to Sinn Féin on bringing forward this motion were a bit glib and petty. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward the motion. It is important that we are very clear on the issue. I am disappointed to hear the Government is not supporting the motion. It is understandable that people are extremely concerned about the potential return of water charges. I remember the massive devastation that happened to people in communities due to the Minister's party's policies ten or so years ago, at the time of austerity. Those policies are what brought us there. He could at least have a bit of humility about the impacts of austerity and how it devastated this country. As the economic winds again change, he could also forgive people for being deeply concerned that we will see the reimposition of austerity in the form of cuts to public services and charges for services like water. That is the reason it is more important than ever now that we rule out the possibility of water charges in any form being brought forward.

We could take the Minister at his word that he is not going to introduce water charges, but it is very clear from Uisce Éireann's strategy that there is a need or it is pushing for water charges in some form under its corporate management plan. We hear in the public debate that others also think there should be water charges. Fine Gael introduced them initially, and I am sure it has not completely gone off them.

It is important to engage seriously with the discussion on this motion and with what is being brought forward. I welcome that because of the opportunity to discuss the nature of Uisce Éireann and water as a public good and a human right. I remember working alongside people in the Right2Water campaign and marching with them. The concern was about water charges, but it was also about water as a public good and as a resource. Ordinary people across this country see the importance of clean water. As has been mentioned, they are living with poor water quality, a lack of wastewater infrastructure, and a lack of public water infrastructure. Looking to the likes of the UK, they understand what happens when you privatise water and when it is not a public good. I remember being very inspired by many of the protesters who pointed to the international experience. They were not just protesting about water charges; they were protesting for water being a public good and for us having a public infrastructure. On that basis, I again call on the Minister to enshrine water in our Constitution as a public good. This was previously sought by the Right2Water campaign and others.

I wish to talk about the potential impact of charges if they are brought in. Theoretically, there is a need for sources of funding for Irish Water such as water charges and that has been debated and discussed in the media.

We also need to talk about what would happen if water charges were brought in, even for excessive use. For example, I recently received an email from a constituent who has been working since was 18. She has been renting for more than ten years. She now spends at least 35% of her monthly income on rent and that is before she pays for utilities. Other energy costs are soaring. The cost of childcare is eye-watering. Families have to go to the private system to get care and assessments they need for their children. Against this dysfunctional backdrop of a high cost of living and a lack of public services, we have to completely rule out the possibility of bringing in water charges. The Minister can blame Sinn Féin for raising it, but it was in the note from his officials, as he referenced himself. Therefore, it is clearly not completely off the agenda. The Minister can say it is politically off the agenda and I welcome that commitment, but there needs to be a clear commitment and supporting this Bill would show that.

The potential charge for excessive water use has the potential to put families under further pressure. All households should have equitable access to water. Those with higher usage should not be penalised across the board, because some will be able to pay the higher cost and some will not. We heard in the public discussion in recent weeks examples of people with additional needs and families and households with disabilities who have significant water usage and how bringing in water charges would potentially impact on these vulnerable groups and families. The model of water we should have should not be based on two-tier access to resources and services, but on access to water as a public good and a human right. Currently, Uisce Éireann is not delivering that. It is not delivering water of the quality it should. It is not delivering it as a human right, especially in respect of that issue of quality. The question then comes: if Uisce Éireann is not doing that, what needs to change?

Clearly there is a need to look at how Uisce Éireann is functioning and how it is delivering and responding to services. This is part of the emergency response to housing that we need to see. In particular, is the area of wastewater, which, as others mentioned, is flowing into our rivers and seas and polluting the water that is not just for leisure activities such as swimming, but is also for consumption. In that leisure use of rivers where people swim, it is causing illness to people who use it. It is a pity because we have an incredible natural resource in our waterways and seas around our coast and yet, we do not do what should be done, which is protect that water as a public good and natural resource.

It is also important that we look at what has happened in the UK with privatisation. It is important that the Government clearly rule out any potential introduction of charges, even excessive charges, and enshrine water as a public good. It is about keeping water public because when we look at what has happened in the UK with privatisation, we see that since the UK privatised water in the 1980s, water companies such as Thames Water have faced debt and insufficient investment. This time last year only 14 rivers in England had good ecological status and none had a good chemical status. There are also frequent sewage spills across the country while water bills are rising steadily in the UK with an average annual price of £287 and this is expected to continue to rise. A child poverty charity reported in February that 15% of households in England and Wales are in water poverty, spending more than 3% of their income on water. Slightly further afield in Spain, the situation is as dire.

We have to rule out the privatisation of our water system and service. That is why we are calling on the Government to enshrine the public control of water in the Constitution in order to safeguard against this future. Without constitutional protection, the Government cannot guarantee fair water pricing or equal access to water for all.

There is a real issue and concern in this situation of economic turbulence that there will be a return to austerity. In that context, we support this Bill to rule out any potential introduction of excessive use charges and call on the Minister to go into Uisce Éireann, take responsibility for it and look at what is needed in respect of investment in wastewater infrastructure and water infrastructure to ensure quality water is delivered to people's homes, is in our seas and rivers and, importantly, to ensure we can deliver the housing that is needed.

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