Asking people to pay for contaminated water is ‘monstrous’

Asking people to pay for contaminated water was monstrous, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has told the Dáil.

In sharp exchanges with Taoiseach Enda Kenny this afternoon as the Dáil resumed its business, he said the bill would be sent out to about 36,000 people across the country who had received boiled water notices. About 21,00 of those people lived in Roscommon, he added.

“Most objective observers would say that there should be an exemption from Irish Water bills for people who cannot drink contaminated water,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny said that the regulator would issue a definitive finding on charges in the next week or so. The situation relating to boiled water was allowed to continue for years, he added. The regulator in an indicative document did indicate that there would be concessions given relating to water unfit for consumption.

Mr Martin asked how a family could be charged for water which was not fit for human consumption.

Mr Kenny said that he never had much time for Mr Martin’s hypocrisy. “Your own programme, Deputy Martin, was for higher charges introduced sooner and no exemption at all,’’ he added.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy said people were increasingly concerned about handing over their PPS numbers to what was a private company. “People cannot understand the requirement to provide such a piece of personal information,’’ she added.

Mr Kenny said water charges were an alternative to increased income tax. There was an allowance for children so it was necessary to have a PPS number provided, he added.