Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I originally lived in a rural area - we did not have a septic tank - but I currently reside in an urban area. As I informed the Minister of State last week, there are many urban dwellers who pay management fees in respect of their estates, etc., and who are now going to be obliged to pay fees for sewerage pumps. These people will be of the opinion that they are paying fees in respect of what is basically a water treatment system. If we state that rural dwellers should not pay anything, the former individuals will feel hard done by. It has not been indicated, in any correspondence I have received in recent weeks, that people are opposed to a €50 fee. They understand that it is to be imposed and they also understand the logic which underpins it.

When those in Sinn Féin are asked to identify from where the money should come, they state that a wealth tax should be introduced. Their version of such a tax is based on the French model.