Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The recent Government announcement of the new water charges system marks yet another panicked U-turn and a massive climb down by the Government in its disastrous handling of Irish Water. This latest U-turn underlines the complete mess this coalition Government has made of our vital natural resource. Fianna Fáil believes it is now time to abolish Irish Water and suspend charges. It is clear that the establishment of the Irish Water super quango has been a debacle, and it has already lost the support and confidence of the Irish people.

Fianna Fáil has consistently opposed the creation of Irish Water. The consultancy costs controversy, bonuses, and overstaffing in this quango have borne out our fears. Irish Water must be abolished.

In terms of the Fianna Fáil model, we propose a new, mutually-owned holding company where the customers own the company. Delivery will be returned to local authorities, and the new national water infrastructure company will be drastically slimmed down to 100 staff. There will be Oireachtas control over consultancy costs and no bonus structure, similar to the scale and role of the National Roads Authority. There has been a marvellous partnership between the local authorities and the National Roads Authority, and all the fabulous roads infrastructure, including motorways, throughout the country is symbolic of that.

The botched implementation of a water charges regime by the Government has shaken the public trust in this coalition's capacity to govern. Fianna Fáil maintains its call for the immediate suspension of water charges until the infrastructure is fixed. Domestic charges should only be introduced when the national infrastructure is brought up to standard. That standard should be set according to the three tests of water quality: quality of the water, water supply and water leakage. Only when that has been achieved should a meter charge be used.

Water is a precious social and economic resource. Upgrading our infrastructure to make it fit for purpose must be a national priority to ensure we have a supply that is safe, reliable and adequate for homes and businesses. In an age of climate change an effective supply would be a major competitive advantage. Our target is to reduce the water mains leakage rate from 40% to the OECD average of 20% and meeting our EU water framework directive targets for water quality and sewage treatment by 2027.

Fianna Fáil proposes a major capital investment programme over 13 years from 2015 to meet these targets. This will be funded by the strategic investment fund, private bond issues and the European Investment Bank, and complemented by general taxation.

Irish Water has been foisted on Irish people who have endured austerity with remarkable resilience until now. I believe, as does the Fianna Fáil Party, that it is now time to call a halt to the quango of Irish Water.