Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----and I would like us to have a full debate in this House on the matter.

It gives me no pleasure to ask for a debate on Irish Water in this House. Water charges are an additional tax our citizens are being asked to pay and they have clearly refused to pay it. The figure of 43% in respect of those who have paid the charges is no great win for anybody. What is upsetting about this is the amount of money that is being pumped in to try to sell this, including some €600,000 in advertising, and the installation of water meters all over the place for no purpose. We need a debate on Irish Water in this House, as we need to decide where we are going with this.

Senator Norris drew attention this morning to the Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill. I am getting concerned about the number of Bills that are appearing before the House to be taken without debate or on various Stages. With respect to the point Senator Norris made about the Clerk of the Seanad and the Clerk of the Dáil, I wonder how many politicians would be happy if they could serve only for a certain period of time and were no longer allowed to serve thereafter.