David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Senator will be happy to know that there are no water charges in the North.

The question was asked as to how we can practically introduce an inability to pay clause. How would it work? If somebody rents a house from a local authority, we have systems in place whereby we can calculate the rent based on income. It is not difficult to do but it depends on whether or not the political will is there to make it happen. If the political will is there to ensure that low income families are protected, then they will be. It is welcome that we have broad political support in this House at least to ensure that there is an inability to pay element in the Bill, whatever form that might take. We must protect low income families, so such a clause is to be welcomed.

I wish to clarify something that is not clear in the legislation. The Minister of State has said repeatedly that in any event all of this will come back to the Oireachtas. Part 3 dealing with water charges states that the water services plan will be framed by Irish Water itself. The relevant text states that the amount of a charge under subsection (1) shall be calculated by Irish Water in accordance with the approved water charges plan or an approved agreement. Under the water charges plan, it refers to how it will be done. Is the Minister of State telling the House that once the water charges plan is put in place it must go into legislation to come before the Oireachtas?