David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt that he will be an independent voice in this Chamber. I am sure he will be on the right side when important votes are taken on issues that have an impact on people. Fair play to Senator Craughwell on his election.

On three occasions over the last two weeks, I have called for a debate on water charges and the water service plan. I made the point that during the many hours this House spent debating the Water Services Bill 2013, at no point were we allowed to discuss the charges themselves. We were told by the then Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, that when the water services plan, which was farmed out to the Commission for Energy Regulation, was ready, it would be brought back to the Oireachtas so that we could have our say. That did not happen.