Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I criticised the Minister strongly for walking out of the Dáil when he introduced the Bill. I compliment him today on sitting through what must be a very tough time. I can see that he is anxious to get out of here. I also admire him for taking on the portfolio he took on for it was truly a poisoned chalice.

Irish Water was established in 2013 and from the outset everything about this company has been shady. Everything one could think about it has been wrong, including the award of the meters contract and the PricewaterhouseCoopers report that was brought before the Seanad with parts blacked out. I do not understand why the Minister accepted what he inherited instead of scrapping it and starting from scratch. That would have been a much better job and the Minister would have had a much easier life.

Senator Landy spoke this morning about having been in contact with councillors. The Members on the other side of the House will be depending on councillors to re-elect them. I have been in contact with councillors and they are concerned that Irish Water is the new Health Service Executive, HSE, unaccountable and a black hole for money. I have their texts, e-mails and voice messages on my phone for anybody who wants to hear them. They see the charges as another tax. These are not the people who were marching on the street. These are locally elected representatives. They regard it as a FUBAR, from the beginning. If the Minister does not know what that is I will be happy to tell him outside this House.

When the Minister talked about affordability this morning he said it is only €3.