David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It was a bit disingenuous of the Minister of State to claim people are playing games when the Government is asking us to buy a pig in a poke. We do not know exactly what the level of the charge will be. We do not know whether there will be an ability to pay clause. We know it is the intention of the Government, as Senator Ó Domhnaill stated, to apply over time the full cost of water services to domestic users. This will have a significant impact on people. From listening to Senator Cummins there is confusion about the meaning of the ability to pay clause. It is not about whether people can pay and how to get the money from them if they cannot do so; it is about how to calculate the charge in the first instance. A fairness element is built in with regard to ability to pay. It is based on income.

I reject completely the partitionist comment from the Leader of the House when he stated "down here", as if the North of Ireland is not part of our country.