Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In this regard, as I have stated, the assurances of the Government are not worth the air on which they are written, because all that counts is what is in the legislation and what is in the Constitution. The lack of will in the Government to ensure not only public ownership of the infrastructure but also of those who would be billed is why the amendment is required. Not having it in the Constitution leaves open the sale of Irish Water and the people being billed to third parties.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore made his famous statement that he did not believe in flat charging or metering, and that he believed it was a public service. All we are trying to do is give fruition to his beliefs and to the beliefs of the Labour Party. However, it seems that if it does not like those principles it has others. The biggest problem for many people with regard to the billing and the €3 a week for water charges is they simply cannot pay it. A referendum will be held in May so there would be no charge to the Government to include another issue on the ballot paper with regard to Irish Water. It would give people genuine assurances, as opposed to words and the promises of leaders of political parties in the run-up to an election that it is an essential public service which they do not believe should be privatised. Deputy Rabbitte made a famous comment about making promises at election time. All that really counts-----