Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

There was much talk about fairness, but nobody has referred to the fact that thousands of families in households throughout the country are already paying water charges through group schemes, including in the farming and business communities. It was a major bone of contention and topic of debate at local authority meetings the length and breadth of the country when farmers were charged for water. It was put to all of us as local authority members at the time that it would be much fairer to have all households pay for water because, as previous speakers stated, it is a finite resource and something we must cherish. Those of us who are fortunate to live in urban areas have water and sewerage services for which we do not pay a charge, yet someone connected to a group scheme must pay for them. They must provide their own septic tank and pay for it. We will soon have a situation where septic tanks will have to be licensed. In that regard, payment for water by metering is fair and equitable.

It is hoped the introduction of the charges will enable us to reduce the cost to business in the years ahead. Reference was made to the need to put a scheme in place to help businesses. If we could reduce the cost to them, that would be welcome.

The Government faces a major challenge. After years of under-investment in infrastructure, the country is broke. We are in hock to the European Union, the IMF and the European Central Bank. We all want world class infrastructure that will drive investment. We want clean, safe water when we turn on our taps and, following a few days of warm weather, do not want to be concerned that we will face water charges as alluded to. However, water will have to be paid for. It is the Government's job to govern and it should get on with it. We should introduce a system that is fair and equitable. I know the Minister will take on board what has been said about people on low incomes and the vulnerable and that a proper waiver system will be put in place to deal with such circumstances. Installing water meters will lead to the creation of jobs.

I have every confidence that the Minister is a man of action who will take on the Department and give the country a system that is workable. We all know how difficult it has been to have water schemes in various counties. I welcome the investment made by the Minister in County Galway, to which Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh referred, in Clifden, Casla, Claregalway and Milltown.