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Updated 5.30pm
THE DRAFT REPORT by the Oireachtas committee looking at water has listed a number of options in relation to the refund of water charges.
The committee is meeting in private today to hammer out some of the issues, but it is understood it will be seeking an extension of up to one month to deliberate on its final report.
Deadlock remains between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who have differing views on many issues, particularly on excess water usage.
However, a government source has said there is “growing confidence” that a compromise can be arrived upon between the two parties.
Delay
Sinn Féin have stated it is utterly opposed to any delay in bringing its recommendations before the Dáil.
One of questions that has long been posed to the committee is – should those who paid get their money back?
The report – which is important to remember only outlines options for the committee – carries a number of proposals that householders who paid their domestic water charges should be compensated.
The Oireachtas committee chairman Pádraig Ó Céidigh states that this should be done in an “equitable manner”.
Senator Grace O’Sullivan says there should be a “suite of measures” offered to householders as to how they can apply to get their money back, including direct payment options as well as tax deductions.
Fianna Fáil is clear in its view that refunds should be administered by the Revenue Commissioners.
However, Fine Gael says everyone should be treated equally and submits that those who have not paid to date should be pursued.
The crux – excessive use of water
Fianna Fáil wants excessive usage to be dealt with by the Water Services Act 2007 under which fines can be applied and enforced through the courts.
Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen maintains this existing law can be strengthened and should satisfy the EU water directive.
The EU directive on water framework maintains that some form of charge under the ‘polluter pays principle’ needs to be introduced.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney has been steadfast in his position that a charge for excessive usage must be introduced so that Ireland does not breach EU laws.
Chairman Ó Céidigh has put over a hundred options forward for consideration in the 32-page report.
He recommends there be no charge for normal water usage but a charge for excessive usage with medical exemptions.
However, in their submission to the committee, the AAA-PBP state that “administering excess usage charge would cost more than charge would raise”.
One option proposed is that there be an excessive usage charge introduced, with similar policy objectives to the introduction of the plastic bag levy (which drastically reduced the usage of plastic bag use in Ireland).
Those found to be using in excess of the agreed ‘normal amount’ would have a grace period of two quarters to get their house in order, and reduce their usage.
Poll results
According to a new Claire Byrne Live/Amárach Research poll three out of five people believe households should be charged for excessive use of water.
Fine Gael, Labour and the chairperson state there should be a charge for the excessive use of water, and it seems the majority of Irish people agree.
Some 60% of those asked said households should be charged for excessive use of water, 32% said no and 8% didn’t know.
Water meters
There is a big issue in this report – the opposing views on the water metering scheme.
There are three options put forward in relation to water meters (which has been long been the crux of the problem for a number of parties).
The chairman recommends the meters in the ground be retained, stating that they are vital for data collection in relation to usage and for leak detection. He says it should be a legal requirement for new dwellings to have them installed.
Fine Gael recommends there be “cost-effective” incentives introduced to ensure water meters are installed in all new builds. There appears to be consensus among members on this issue.
Senator Grace O’Sullivan says water meters should be installed as standard in all new-builds.
However, Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil are calling for the complete cessation of the water metering programme.
The committee are due to meet a number of times this week.
Additional reporting Christina Finn
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People, not parties,, are elected to Dáil Éireann.
Depriving TDs speaking time because of internal party matters is an affront to democracy.
Kevin, all TD’s have the right to speak, but there is an order placed upon that right so that the larger parties are afforded the opportunity first, representative of their greater respresentative clout.
This system is required for the efficient and orderly debate of particular issues.
If you want to priorotise certain TD’s based on electoral clout then give the TD with the most votes priority. Not the party with most members.
If they can’t speak get the system changed or get rid of them with no pension or perks
The purpose of the meeting today is to secure speaking rights for the affected group, made up of former FGs.
I may be reading it wrong but it seems to me these TDs had speaking rights as FG members which they lost when they lost the Party whip.
They now want to obtain speaking rights as in their own right.
Democracy in action preventing some from speaking in the Dail because they disagreed about party policy. So much for Enda’s claim to be reforming how government works.
FG are really trying to punish & humiliate those ‘rebel’ TD’s
very petty & vindictive
Irish democracy is being revealed for the joke that it is.
It would appear that Enda and Hulk Hogan have succeeded in bringing us the transparent government they promised.
Who could disagree with that comment.
Methinks Kehoe has activated the YFGbots.
This system has been in place long before the FG/Lab government came to power and is represented across the chambers of nearly all other western democracies.
Show me a democracy that does not operate in this way.
This shure we de worst in the world rubbish is physically sickening. Grow a pair of balls ffs and instead of imagining that the world is laughing at you, or that Ireland is the only country with problems, get off your butts and do something.
doesnt mean it works
This government just keeps digging a deeper political grave for itself with every negative announcement they make.
They have their speaking rights at mass on Sundays
Not that I want to listen to a word from idiot Creighton or fool Timmons …but ain’t it slightly off the wall that elected TDs aren’t allowed to speak…..democracy haw are you !
“the coalition has no plans to amend Dáil standing orders”.
So where is the open and accountable Government we were promised?
Serves them right
Democratically elected Tds not allowed to speak in the national parliament.
That’s a bad thing, see?
Democracy = a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Leaves me to ask, what do you call the present system of government?
Ireland operates a Whipocracy …. NOT a Democracy.
Whipped TDs vote for vested interests not the interests of those who voted for them.
Local Property Tax … case in point.
Revenue voted power by Whipped TDs to get the Anglo Tax from your pay, pension or bank account.
Hostile action by Government against the electorate … not in Syria …. in Ireland.
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FB/LocalPropertyTax
I found this out today and it made my blood boil!!! Eammon Gilmore is on €152,000 a year, plus €48,000 ‘expenses’ and he has FIVE advisers on a combined total of €670,000 !! Just him alone is costing nearly 1million. Ffs like.
his ‘expenses’ are almost twice my salary
He also has unvouched allowances
for example €5000 per year dry cleaning…. !!!!
This is the Taoiseach whose political reform instincts we’re trusting if we abolish the Seanad; he *might* reform the Dáil, but all indications are that he won’t.
yer wan from the Vincent Browne show has nice legs !
Who is yer wan….???
Vincent?
The wan in the background talking to petey forer banker Matthews ; she’s wearing high heels and she does be on the telly so she does .
The new Labour Party watch this space .
There is nothing to stop these TDs joining the existing technical group in the Dail or forming another technical group with someone like Mattie McGrath. Under the rules of the Dail they only need a minimum of 7 TDs for form such a group in order to gain more speaking rights.
The reason this isn’t happening is nothing to do with standing orders, but because it would effect the income “entitlements” of those TDs. This is while Healy Rae & McGrath chose not to be in the first technical group. The earn more money by being out of it.
There are 166 TDs in the Dail. If they each were allowed 5 mins a day speaking time then that would be 13 hours and 50 minutes each day excluding votes, debate and questions. Doesn’t seem workable.
you are assuming that they all turn up to the Dail every day
have your say