David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. The Minister of State also said the metering means "1,600 jobs sustained". I think that a rather sly use of the word "sustained" because these are expendable, limited jobs that are not going to be sustained. They will be for four years, but when you get to my age, four years is absolutely damn all - you just do not notice it flying. That is not sustainable employment. It is employment for a satisfactory period but still not the correct one. Again, I agree with the Government that metering is the fairest method.

With regard to financing, "the Bill provides that the Minister can make grants to Irish Water, consideration is being given to alternative approaches and there may be an amendment required." Is the Minister of State in a position to give us information as to what those alternative approaches are likely to be? Is it funding through a flotation on the stock market? I would be interested to know in what way they will be funded.

There is also the question of ensuring the interests of staff, which is good. As I raised in regard to the earlier Bill, I consider it very important to know the relationship between the new body and the local authorities, particularly in terms of planning. This will be vital and unless it is properly addressed, it could undermine the entire process.

With regard to water charges for supply to a premises where waste water is also discharged, given it is specified that they amount to the same thing, if I were in a light-hearted mood I would say they are not always discharged. If one is supplying one's swimming pool, for example, or filling one's moat, as members of parliament in a neighbouring island do, it is not discharged at all. Perhaps these poor aristocrats should be looked at for their moats and their swimming pools.