Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I am intrigued concerning amendment No. 135, although I am not in confrontational humour. I am curious to know whether prior to the insertion of amendment No. 135 there was no clear power to prohibit all these things. That is the only question I have. One always assumed that in a time of water scarcity, local authorities started by appealing to the public but could then instruct. One of the wonderful things about politics is that one learns something new all the time. I am not the Labour Party spokesman on this issue, and the Minister, if he were in a confrontational mood, could say that shows, but I am glad of this amendment.

I have a long-standing interest in issues relating to the provision of water. The only argument I have with the Minister is the fact that there is always a scarcity of water and our philosophy in this regard must ultimately adjust to that. I do not believe in charging for domestic water, but clean drinking water is a scarce resource. To mention or not to mention Galway, that is the question. However, clean water is a scarce resource and, therefore, there is an issue to be addressed concerning conservation. I welcome the amendment and I confess to being astonished that we did not have it before. I am not blaming the Minister, but I am surprised.