Kelly accused of leaving Dáil to sell ‘snake oil trickery’ to media

An independent expert or authority is required to know how much it would cost to put a proper water system in place because Government figures “seems to have been plucked from the sky”, the Dáil has heard.

Fianna Fáil environment spokesman Barry Cowen said three weeks ago the Taoiseach said €20 billion was required.

“Last week he said it was €10 billion. On the radio last night a Government Deputy was referring to €20 million.”

He said the Dáil debate should not conclude “until such time as somebody with eminent qualifications or independent authority can inform the House of exactly what has to be spent, where it needs to be spent, how long the process will take and what system can be put in place”.

He said it was not good enough that the "monster" that is Irish Water did not have a five year plan in place "It is not good enough for the Taoiseach to talk about figures of €10 billion and €20 billion."

Mr Cowen said they had sought an audit of the networks for rectification and reinstatement works - a clear setting out of what was to be done, how it was to be done and how much it would cost. “We still do not have that information and that is not good business.”

Mr Cowen sparked a walkout by the Opposition after Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly left the Dáil to give a press conference. He called for an adjournment until the Minister came back.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the House should be suspended to protect its “dignity and integrity”. Sinn Féin leader said Mr Kelly’s absence was “despicable”. Socialist Joe Higgins accused the Minister of going to sell his “snake oil trickery” to the media.

Opposition TDs, who stood preparing to leave, paused when Government Chief Whip got to his feet, but began walking out when he accused them of “grandstanding”. Mr Kehoe then called a 45-minute adjournment.

In the debate Sinn Féin environment spokesman Brian Stanley said about 10 per cent of the cost of running Irish Water would be collected if most people paid, but the real figures were €480 or €500 for a household with five adults.

Mr Stanley said “people will realise that they will face such rates in four years” and it was nothing more than another form of taxation.

Independent Shane Ross said the 100,000 people who demonstrated against the charges were people who did not normally protest.

Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan asked “how many accountants and lawyers does it take to set up Irish Water”.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy said people would look at the Government’s announcement as an introductory offer.

“ People are also offended by the metering programme and to whom the contract has been awarded. They question how the same names keep cropping up over and over again to get great benefits like the second mobile phone licence for example.”

Independent Socialist Clare Daly said the Government kept changing requirements from the PPS number to whether legislative change was necessary to keep Irish Water in public hands. “The Government’s backflipping would be the envy of a professional acrobat,” she said.

Independent Séamus Healy said the “untruth being peddled is that the public will not pay for water”. They had been paying and continued to pay for water through general taxation.