David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

The Government needs to listen to the people. Working people are paying more PAYE and PRSI and the universal social charge but are getting fewer services. These are the same people who have to pay private health insurance at the same time as paying taxes for health care. Local authority services are being cut to the bone and people are getting no extra service for all of these so-called charges.

During the course of our debate on the household charge we heard many Senators say it amounted to only €2 per week. They are now saying it will cost only €50 per annum for the meter and that charges in respect of water usage will be only a couple of hundred euro a year. However, it is the cumulative effect of all of these charges and their impact on working families that this Government does not get. If it does not get it soon, it will be in serious trouble. It is easy for well paid politicians to say we must pay for all of these services. The reality is that people are paying an awful lot more taxes with less money in their pockets. Unless the Government gets that, it will not get all of these charges over the line.