David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business tabled by Senator Denis O'Donovan.

I commend the tens of thousands of people who took to the streets on Saturday in protest at the Government's unfair water charges. This is the fourth occasion on which record numbers of people have come out on to the streets to campaign not only against unfair water charges but against many aspects of Government policy. It was clear to those of us on this side of the House when we debated the water services Bill mark three that at some point we would come back with the water services Bill mark four, because the Government has not learned from the lessons of the last three Bills and the mistakes it made in regard to the creation of Irish Water and all the difficulties it brought upon itself in respect of water charges.We now hear from Ministers that the carrot approach has not worked. The Government is therefore moving to the stick approach - namely, as the Government has put it, to fast-track people through the courts. How in God's name will that be done? It is unworkable. It is smoke and mirrors. It is more hot air from the Government and it is simply a strong-arm tactic from to coerce more people into signing up to Irish Water. It is clear that a significant number of people have not registered and many people who have registered will not pay these charges. I call for a debate on the issue of water services. The issue has not gone away. The Government has not listened to the people. It is stumbling from one crisis to the next. Here it is again, threatening and coercing people into registering for a service they already pay for and for which they do not want to pay. I commend those who took to the streets on Saturday, and I call for a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government as soon as possible. I am not tabling an amendment to the Order of Business on that issue, but I second the amendment tabled by Senator O'Donovan.