Tánaiste asked to clarify issue of water charges

TÁNAISTE Eamon Gilmore indicated it was not clear if the introduction of water charges would require legislation. “The issue is addressed in the programme for government. When the Government has considered it, if a legislative measure is required it will be advised in the House.”

On Wednesday, Minister of State for the Environment Fergus O’Dowd said water charges would not be imposed until meters had been installed in every household, which was expected to take three years. Installation was expected to start next year costing €1 billion.

Pressing Mr Gilmore for clarity on the issue yesterday, Joe Higgins (Socialist Party) said people voting in the general election believed what the Tánaiste had said at the time. “One commitment he gave was that his party would not impose water charges on hard-pressed householders.”

When Mr Gilmore asked him to identify the relevant item on the legislative programme, Mr Higgins said he was referring to what had been promised in the House by a Minister of State.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF) said Mr O’Dowd had also mentioned that a new quango, Irish water or presumably uisce Éireann, would be established to take over supply and maintenance from 34 local authorities. “I do not see this in the legislative programme, although the Minister of State expressed his hope that legislation would be ready to set up that quango before the end of the year.”