David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A number of fundamental issues arise with the amendments to this section which deals with water charges. The Minister of State will be aware that my party opposes the Bill partly on the basis of the proposal to introduce charges. People will be asking what all of the other taxes they pay are being used for. They are still coming to terms with the universal social charge, the purpose of which was never properly explained. That charge had a big impact on people's pay, but the rationale behind it remains unclear. The property tax or family home charge - whatever one wants to call it - was also imposed on them with the explanation that it would pay for local services. Now they are being asked to pay for water separately. We will end up with a situation where people will pay separately for waste collection, school books and transport, and household charges and property taxes for local services, while also paying water charges. At the same time, they are paying more than ever before in direct taxes, whether through PAYE or the universal social charge. They are concerned and frustrated about how they will be facing annual bills that will impact on their quality of life. It is not so much a question of whether people are going to be asked to pay a standing charge for the meter which will only compound the anger but whether this makes sense in the context of the property tax. Perhaps the Minister of State might dispel people's confusion about why we are paying all of these charges separately. What is the point of a property tax if we are paying separately for everything else?

How will the Government protect low income families from the burden of these charges? Leaving aside my opposition to water charges, I am concerned about how they will impact on people. I am sure these concerns have also been raised with Government Members. What measures will the Government put in place to ensure people do not end up in water poverty, as already happens in the case of fuel? I think the Minister of State addressed this question on Second Stage, but perhaps he might clarify the strategy in this regard. I do not want to delay the debate. I have made my political point and look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response.