Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Only 500,000 people have returned the documentation out of 1.2 million. The whole thing is a debacle. The Government might as well shut it down, suspend any further charging and try to get this right. Most people want water conserved and want a fair system, with which I would agree. However, the situation is going from bad to worse and it will not get any better unless the Government shows some leadership. I formally ask the Deputy Leader to ask Ministers to suspend water charges, carry out a proper review, give the system time and put a proper and correct system in place.

I refer to the very serious statements of fact made in regard to the cover up of abuse and rape in the North of Ireland by the provisional movement and by members of Sinn Féin. Unfortunately, this country has had to deal with terrible affairs in regard to child sexual and physical abuse. On foot of the announcement by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North that there will be a specific inquiry into three cases, what action will the Government take? I am certain there are people in this State - in the Republic - and Irish citizens in the North who have been affected? Are there any plans for the Government to set up an inquiry in this regard?

I will not mention any names as I do not want to politicise the situation any more than it has been but everyone knows what the real situation is and who knew what. Perhaps the Government will have a specific response in regard to any inquiry. It may be useful in the coming weeks for the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to come to the House to address these matters. Even though it was a paramilitary organisation - some would call it a terrorist organisation - its cover ups were institutional, about which there is no question. It was systemic in that organisation.

The social welfare and pensions Bill is due but I am no further down the road in regard to getting answers from the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection about the airport pensioners, the airport pension scheme and the drastic reductions the Government proposes to make to the pensions of both retired members and deferred members, who will take hits of up to 60% to what they were promised.

These reductions also affect the active members of the scheme. I have mentioned this time and again. We all know that if this is allowed happen to this pension scheme, it will happen to pension schemes all over the country. This is not just about the 15,000 people who are affected. It is very unfair. I think we would agree on all sides of the House that what is being proposed is absolutely outrageous. I cannot get an answer from the Tánaiste. She keeps referring to the fact that the expert panel liaised and dealt in a very detailed manner with people's concerns. It did not and we all know that.

In advance of the social welfare Bill, I need to know the Government's position, so I can prepare amendments to that Bill. With that in mind, I would like to table an amendment to the Order of Business that, even for half an hour, the Tánaiste would come to the House and make a statement on the position with regard to pension changes that have been passed under the State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014, which affects 15,000 current and former airport workers. They are entitled to know whether the Government will bring forward any amendments to stop these drastic reductions in their pensions. I formally propose that amendment.