Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is Christmas week and I would love to go home, but we are not going home until we get a reasonable response to our concerns. The Minister has repeatedly claimed that he is sincerely and genuinely listening and that he will accept any reasonable amendment. With respect to Senator Byrne, he is offering the weakest possible amendment. The Minister need do nothing but consider it. If he does not have the power to permit a forum to consider something, it is absolutely pathetic. He indicated that the forum was about customer feedback rather than constitutional issues. Has he heard the cry of the conscripted customer who does not want water to be privatised? That cry is loud and clear. Is he listening to that feedback? He has just said "No."