Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not interrupt the Senator; I have treated him with respect. Hard as it might be, I ask him to listen to me.

There are two facets to the household charge or its equivalent in the North: the regional charge and the national charge. Belfast City Council fixes the regional charge and the record shows that last year every one of the Sinn Féin's people in Belfast voted to increase it by 2% in the context of an average household payment of €1,200. Sinn Féin can be against things in this jurisdiction, but in the other jurisdiction it is a different story. If one builds even a small shed to improve one's house in Belfast, it adds to the tax one pays.

We have a situation which must be dealt with properly and fairly and where we must look to future employment prospects in our region and country to make Ireland a place in which to do business. I have said there are water shortages in many countries. Owing to climate change there will be increasing changes across the world. We are in the lucky position that we are water-rich. If we can have the infrastructure to supply water to the people who need it and when they need it for their employment projects, this will be a centre of investment. We can do this only if we have the infrastructure in place and we can only do it if we have the money, part of which is raising funds.

Senator Denis Landy mentioned two figures, neither of which was mentioned by me.