Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Thank you very much, a Chathaoirligh. I think the issue of people's ability to pay has not been grasped by the Government. I suggest that if it pushes this Bill through, it will see an escalation of the campaign of peaceful protests in housing estates across the country against the installation of water meters. That will work against the Government's hope that people will back down and this thing will go away after Christmas. If there is an escalation of this campaign, the Government will come under more pressure. It is possible that people who have been in favour of registering with Irish Water and paying their bills will turn against that principle. That is why I support this amendment. It would have been preferable if a Bill had been introduced to remove water charges completely and establish a utility as we have suggested. Obviously, the Government is not doing that. As parliamentarians who represent all the people who have contacted us on this issue, our job is to propose measures that can be taken. The Minister has not grasped the inability to pay question. As my colleague, Senator Reilly, outlined yesterday, people out there are really strapped, especially coming up to Christmas. The Minister really needs to rethink his strategy.