Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is the first opportunity to replace the two elected members of the European Parliament. By-elections, by law, must be held within six months of a vacancy arising, so this is normal business. I smiled when the Senator mentioned water charges, with his tongue planted firmly in cheek. He knows well that there are alleviating measures for medical and other reasons, an appeals system and a regulator will decide on certain matters. We should allow the process to continue.

One should remember that this Government inherited an appalling mess, as the Senator knows. It is the same Civil Service used by the former Government, and it is well aware - as we all are - of what the former Government set in train and signed up to.