Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I left a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht to come here because I felt I had to after what happened at the weekend in my constituency of Dublin South-West and in Jobstown. At the location there is a fine educational establishment which started off trying to help, and continues to do so, the people of Dublin South-West, Tallaght and Jobstown. It started off as a small project in the shanty which aimed to empower people and show them what democracy was, to educate people who had not received an education and to develop the community. It has done so much for people, empowered them and shown them the right way to get their message out. It gave them a voice and encouraged people to say what they think.

There are great people in Jobstown who can get out there and show that democracy prevails. People should be allowed to protest but they do not need the likes of Deputy Paul Murphy to stand with a megaphone, a "champagne socialist" as he was called earlier, to lead them astray. I canvassed in Jobstown and can attest to the fact that they are the best and nicest of people. They say what they want in a vociferous manner but they say it well. They do not need to be led astray by a man with a megaphone. Incitement to hatred was mentioned by a previous speaker. I commend the Tánaiste on the dignity she showed by putting up with the situation and remaining in her car for two and half hours. She had no choice in the matter and was forced to remain in her car. The matter must be investigated and I call on the Garda to ensure it investigates the matter. Obviously everything must be investigated.

I ask that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government comes to the House to ensure we have a proper debate on the new proposals for water charges. Nobody can say that the issue was handled properly but the Government has listened to the proper democratic voice of the people. I ask the Minister to come in here for a debate on the new charges. There are people who cannot afford to pay the charges and the Minister and Government have listened to their plight. I ask the Leader to tell us when the Minister will come here for a debate.

As I said, I left a committee meeting to attend here. Water conservation is one of the issues that we must tackle and we must educate people about the matter. The people out on the street with megaphones have also asked people not to pay bin charges and the property tax. Those people walked away when the people who refused to pay charges got into trouble and that is what will happen again.