Ivana Bacik (Independent)

Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the issue of water charges. I have gone on record in the House previously - I am happy to do so again - to indicate that I am very much in favour of such charges. It is important to ensure sustainable use of this scarce resource. As has been stated previously, so much rain falls in Ireland that it is difficult to believe it is a scarce resource. It is, therefore, important to use water in a sustainable way and we must encourage people to do so.