Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept this. It was not the only amendment ruled out of order questionably, but this is a matter for another day.

The figures we are debating are not being thrown about by any of us. Senator Barrett brought forward figures from independent sources. On numerous occasions I quoted figures from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service which received praise from the Minister on Second Stage. According to its figures, if we were to take the average European rate Ireland would charge €1.91 per 1,000 litres, leading to an annual figure of €87.67 per person. According to the CSO the average number of people living in each house is 2.78 and if we multiply €87 by 2.78 the figure arrived at is approximately €270. Generating €500 million would require a household charge of €360. It is not clear whether the Government's ambition is to derive the full cost of water from consumers. If this is the case it would involve the €1 billion spoken about by Senator Barrett and the €740 mentioned by the Oireachtas Library and Research Service. The Oireachtas Library and Research Service backs up what Senator Barrett stated.