Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh an Aire Stáit. Bhí cuid mhaith daoine ag éisteacht leis an díospóireacht an lá faoi dheireadh agus ní tharlaíonn sin ró-mhinic ó thaobh ábhair a bhíonn á plé againn anseo. Cuireann an leasú áirithe seo atá molta cuid mhaith imní ar dhaoine i gcomhthéacs cuid de na ráitis.

Many people were listening to the debate the other day and picked up on some of the points made, particularly points made in regard to this specific amendment on the ability to pay principle. The Minister of State said that the people who can pay, will pay. Will he clarify which legislation will be used to enforce that? In the case of the household charge, there was a serious issue when the county councils tried to collect the moneys for the household charge and subsequently the property tax was handed over for collection to the Revenue Commissioners. In this scenario, what mechanism will be used to take the moneys from those people who do not pay their Bills, notwithstanding whether they have the ability to pay or not? Will the Government use powers to allow payments be made from State payments, such as social welfare payments or REPS payments?

With the property tax, the Government has given the Revenue Commissioners the powers to allow them take moneys directly from people's bank accounts. If people are not in a position to pay their water bill to Uisce Éireann, what power will be given to Uisce Éireann or what mechanism can it use and how far can it go to take that money from people? The Minister of State has said that people will not be criminalised or sent to prison. However, taking money from people who are already stretched means they will not have that money to spend on other essentials and is almost as bad as criminalising them. Will the Minister of State clarify the position for us?