Seanad debates

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Water Sector Reforms: Statements

 

5:55 pm

Photo of Gerard CraughwellGerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Has the regulator been made redundant? This is an interesting point, but nothing has been said about it.

The system is extremely unfair.

If I have my own well, my own septic tank, I am getting €100. If I am on the public water utility, I am paying €100. If I am part of group scheme, I am getting €100 and the group scheme is getting €140. I really do not understand how we put a pricing structure in place or where we are coming from. It strikes me that we just plucked the pricing out of the sky and said, "Sure, we will throw €100 to everybody and that will keep them all happy and get them off our backs".

I want to talk about the legislation to ensure that water is retained in public ownership. Has the Minister of State not got the message that people do not trust the Government? People have no faith in any of us in these Houses. There is only one thing they will trust and that is a referendum that guarantees Irish Water will be retained under the ownership of the Irish people.

I have been doing the maths and I must admit to the Minister of State that I am very confused. From what I can see, the borrowings of Irish Water will not be met by its revenues. I think a sort of a bull-headed approach has been taken. We brought in Irish Water and, by God, we are going to keep in there regardless of what anybody says, and we will just drop the price down to a level that will keep people happy for the moment. I would like the Minister of State to go back and advise the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government that the plan is not going to work. As I have already stated, I do not at all subscribe to the thuggery that took place in Jobstown, but I fear we will see large numbers out on the streets again on 10 December and if we do, we are all in trouble. We have to sit down and look at where we are going.

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