David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is also the question of the behaviour of Members of the House, which was regrettable and resulted in a situation where only one person from this side of the House was heard, and that was mainly in the form of interruptions. I was not the only person involved in the mess, but it was a mess and undemocratic. With regard to water, no one wants to pay for water and no one agreed to pay for water. What they are paying for is the treatment and delivery of water. The rain that comes out of the sky is free, and if this is all one wants that is fine, one should just stand outside and open one's mouth. We already pay for this water through central taxation. This is an additional tax. In light of the Trichet letter, obviously people in this country feel very strongly that it is yet another austerity tax, and that is what it is. This is being imposed on a country where a large number of people are put to the pin of their collar and are not able. They do not have the money. One cannot get blood out of a stone.