David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be supporting the amendment. Unfortunately, any amendment which sought to remove the water charges completely has been ruled out of order, so that is that. We might return to those discussions when we get to the section but the amendments still in play, which have not been ruled out of order, seek to delay the introduction of the charges. Any amendment that seeks to delay the introduction of the charges should be welcomed, and I will support it.

Thirteen months ago when we discussed the first Water Services Bill one of the difficulties I had with being asked to pass that Water Services Bill was that we were not being told what the water charges would involve. During the lengthy discussion with the Minister at the time, which was the then Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, who did most of the hearings, he said we had to trust the Government and the Commission for Energy Regulation, which is the independent body that would examine water charges. He said it would come back with a fair proposal, as he saw it. It was a case of nothing to see here. There was no concern or panic. The view was that any concerns raised in respect of the charges were irrational, that we were being hysterical, whipping up sentiment and so on.