Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We made it clear on Second Stage that we have huge issues with this Bill. We believe it is a wolf in sheep's clothing to a certain extent. Its only mitigating factor is the section dealing with people not being imprisoned for non-payment of debts, but the rest of the Bill is being used to cover up the Government's failure in regard to water charges. It is clear to us that the way this Bill, and the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, were brought before the Houses is a panicked reaction from the Government because there is huge lack of buy-in on the part of the public to the issue of water charges when only 43% of people have signed up at this stage. It is clear to us the number of people who will pay their water charges in future will decrease rather than increase. It is a failed Government policy. This is the Government's fourth attempt to bring legislation through these Houses to bring through a flawed entity, which is Irish Water - Uisce Éireann. We opposed it at all other stages and we still oppose it here.

We oppose the way that the Government is trying to give sweeping powers to an entity, such as Irish Water, to pick-pocket Irish citizens who have shown their distaste for the way the Government has set up Irish Water as a utility. We would call on the Government, even at this stage, to withdraw this Bill and to rethink its position on Irish Water in line with public opinion out there. It is in that tone that we oppose almost all sections of this Bill.