Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I look forward to hearing the latest chapter in the water debacle later today. I understand that yesterday in the House, there was some querying as to my involvement in protests in this regard. Consequently, given that I was absent yesterday, it is only appropriate that I point out to Members that I was present at some of the protests in recent weeks. However, I condemn absolutely all the violence in Jobstown, Sligo or anywhere else. It takes from the sincerity and validity of the campaign and I certainly would have no hand, act or part in it. I believe in and support peaceful protest and certainly will attend future peaceful protests on issues I consider to be a matter of concern to the public and on matters my constituents consider to be of issue to them. I certainly was in attendance at a protest in Sligo the other night and I very much regret the thugs who became involved in unnecessary behaviour in what up to that point had been a good-humoured protest and demonstration by diverse members of society, from all walks of life and none and certainly not involved in any aspect of politics. It was highly regrettable.

I hope, as the Leader and others have pointed out, that Members have a debate either later this evening or tomorrow on whatever it is that will be announced tomorrow. I am sad to state I do not believe it will be enough. I believe Members have set about establishing the monster that is Irish Water. It is like setting up McAlpine to build a single house. There is a huge umbrella organisation, with a huge amount of cost associated with it, for which the people are not prepared to pay. It was ill-thought out, was wrong and there is no appropriate way forward other than to abolish this entity, to invest in the infrastructure nationally and to leave it at that. The people are entitled to that, as well as to uniform quality nationwide. They are entitled to a good infrastructure and when there already is an infrastructure that has been providing water to the people of Ireland for many generations, why was it necessary to set up this gilt-edged superstructure with pensions, bonuses and so on? Workers were misled, by bringing them into a situation in which they thought they were in secure jobs but they were not. It was ill-thought out and trade unions on the one hand now are protesting while on the other, they are indicating they do not wish to have bonuses cut. It is an unmitigated disaster-----