James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have spoken on Irish Water previously. It seems to be business as usual. The Government is treating this House and the other House with absolute disdain, as it did before the Christmas recess. It is doing the same now before the summer recess. It is doing this to drive through very unpopular legislation that does not sit well with the public in the hope that the dust will settle over the holiday period and it can get away with it. I am afraid to inform the Minister of State that that will not happen.

I am disappointed that the senior Minister has not seen fit to come to this Chamber and face the music. I can understand how he might want a lengthy summer break after the annus horribilishe has had in his position as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I have often put on the record that it was an unusual portfolio for my former party to take over, given that it was a terrible mess. It was like walking in to get an unmerciful hiding.

During the debate before the Christmas recess I stated that the figures for Irish Water did not add up. At that time I said that a non-payment rate of 47% would put Irish Water deep into the red. That figure obviously represents 57% non-compliance with payment. Where will the money come from for Irish Water? How will it raise money on the open market if it is in the red? I see it as a stepping stone towards the privatisation of our water supply.Why is there a fear of putting this to the people in a referendum and enshrining it in law to give citizens the right to decide where their water supply comes from?

Many people are opposed to paying water charges on ideological grounds. This legislation has been put before the House in an underhanded way in that these sections have been added to apply to dog breeding and so on. It is wrong to expect people to agree to be strong-armed into registering with Irish Water and paying for that utility when there is still a whiff from the Siteserv controversy and all of that. As other speakers said, we can live without gas and electricity but the essential of life is sustenance, and that is food and water. People in many parts of the world live without electricity and gas.