Michael Collins: Opposes Water Charges, Warns on Leaks
Michael Collins spoke in the Dáil on water charges, saying he is totally opposed to water charges and that they place an undue burden on farmers, businesses and households. He criticised water quality, cited recurring leaks and contamination, and said the Government were wrong to oppose the motion.
He said he was "totally opposed to water charges" and recalled joining strong protests against them. He argued that with property tax, carbon tax and other levies already in place, the least citizens should expect is free water.
He highlighted the impact on agriculture, saying he paid for Tree Connections and that his son now pays as he runs the farm. He warned farmers face a huge burden and noted businesses are already paying rates, VAT and new local charges such as fees for stools, chairs or tables outside premises in Cork County Council.
He raised concerns that leaks are not being addressed promptly and that responsibility for repairs is unclear, especially in housing estates where someone "could turn on the tap and walk away." He urged action to stop leaks and called for clear accountability.
He questioned the quality of supply and referenced ongoing discussion of the waste water treatment plan. He cited Deputy Ken O'Flynn holding up a glass of discoloured water from his constituency as evidence of scandalous conditions.
He warned of deep public disquiet and a loss of confidence in service delivery, saying the public will not continue to pay for water if standards are not met. He urged the Government to reconsider the history and handling of water charges and to address repair and quality issues urgently.
Opposition to water charges
He said he was "totally opposed to water charges" and recalled joining strong protests against them. He argued that with property tax, carbon tax and other levies already in place, the least citizens should expect is free water.
Burden on farmers and businesses
He highlighted the impact on agriculture, saying he paid for Tree Connections and that his son now pays as he runs the farm. He warned farmers face a huge burden and noted businesses are already paying rates, VAT and new local charges such as fees for stools, chairs or tables outside premises in Cork County Council.
Leaks and responsibility
He raised concerns that leaks are not being addressed promptly and that responsibility for repairs is unclear, especially in housing estates where someone "could turn on the tap and walk away." He urged action to stop leaks and called for clear accountability.
Water quality concerns
He questioned the quality of supply and referenced ongoing discussion of the waste water treatment plan. He cited Deputy Ken O'Flynn holding up a glass of discoloured water from his constituency as evidence of scandalous conditions.
Political consequences and public confidence
He warned of deep public disquiet and a loss of confidence in service delivery, saying the public will not continue to pay for water if standards are not met. He urged the Government to reconsider the history and handling of water charges and to address repair and quality issues urgently.
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Transcript
I myself am totally opposed to water charges and I was one of those people at that time that protest was very strongly against the water charges. The problem we have is very little is recognised here in relation to people that do pay for water. The agriculture, the farmers are paying for water, I myself paid for Tree Connections and my son is paying for it now because he is running the farm. It is a huge burden to farmers and they are having to show responsibility that if there are leaks they have to deal with the issue immediately and this is where there could be a problem here that I could at least listen to the argument as to how we are going to stop that because somebody in a housing estate with no disrespect to people there could turn on the tap and walk away because there is no responsibility as such and there has to be some bit of responsibility or there could be a leak and they might not bother or might not want to fix that leak. You also have to look at businesses out there. How many businesses out there are paying water charges, they are paying rates, they are paying every such thing. I think even recently there is a new charge being introduced if they have stools or chairs or tables outside the door as if they have one be done enough. That is another rate in the Cork County Council that has been hit to these businesses people do on top of the vat, on top of everything else. Although some people out there are paying exorbitant amounts of money for water and more aren't. I personally think that in a situation where people are paying huge money with property tax and with all sorts of carbon tax and every kind of tax going that is the very least we get in this country is water free and I think that is an area that the Government are wrong here to oppose this motion tonight. I think they need to take a long look back at the history of where the water charges went to the previous time and the huge disquiet amongst the already citizens of this country. But the quality of the water too, the Minister, has to come into play. I mean it is the same, it is quite questionable and we will be talking again later on this week in relation to the waste water treatment plan but for now it is water. Deputy Ken O'Flynn was in this house only about two weeks ago and he held up a glass of water that is in his own constituency, the water there and you wouldn't know was it a glass of coke or certainly not a glass of clear water, it is scandalous to see the condition of the water there. But there is an awful lot of issues of no confidence in relation to the public out there and in relation to isch care and delivering and if you expect that the public out there is still going to pay for water and the service not at its best by no manner of means, I think you have another thing coming and I would appreciate that you would look at that. So basically we need to look at repairing leaks, I see there in Bantry where there are continuous leaks and as soon as one pops it pops all over the town. This is letting people in a very bad situation. Mr. President.