Seanad debates

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage

 

12:15 pm

Photo of Jim WalshJim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. Mar a dúirt sé féin, bhí sé ina Theachta sa Seanad ar feadh téarma amháin. Ansin, blianta ó shin, chuaigh sé go dtí Parlaimint na hEorpa. I welcome the Minister and thank him for what was a comprehensive outline of the difficulties he inherited when he entered office. I would like to start by repeating what I said on Second Stage of the Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013 on 4 December 2013. It is illustrative of why the Minister is facing opposition and why a hornet's nest has been stirred up regarding this controversy. I said:


Our party is opposing the Bill for some of the reasons I mentioned. We are not alone in opposing this Bill. The Labour Party's election manifesto stated it did not favour water charges. On 18 February 2011, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, said the Labour Party did not favour water charges. On 28 June 2010, the [then] leader of Labour Party, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, stated ... he was against water charges, that water was a necessity, that he always believed essential services like water should be delivered as a public service, that a flat household charge would be unfair as it would not discriminate between houses with five bathrooms or no bathroom, and that metering was unworkable. That comment was made by the Tánaiste three years ago.
Of course, the Labour Party was then in opposition. Therein lies the problem.

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