From October onwards Irish Water will be issuing bills in respect of water charges to families across the country. I could talk about the average bill of €240 promised by the Taoiseach before the local elections, despite the fact that a family with two adult children will now be paying about €590 - a far cry from his €240. I could talk about the fact that the Taoiseach said that the cost for children would be free but we now know that children will be entitled to about one shower a week and one daily toilet flush. However, I do not intend to focus on that aspect today; instead I will focus specifically on the fact that bills will be sent out to about 36,000 people-----

Flush them out.

-----across the country who are in receipt of boil-water notices and about 21,000 of those live in County Roscommon. There has been very great confusion and anger across the midlands this morning because of statements emanating from Fine Gael about this specific issue giving the impression that there will be a 100% exemption now. The Taoiseach will understand that the people of Roscommon are very wary of any kind of promises emanating from him or from sources close to him.

Most objective observers would say that there should be a complete exemption from Irish Water bills for people who cannot drink contaminated water. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, made a great statement when he said that people should pay for water because we have it up to Ballygowan standard. It is clear that in these 30,000 or so houses it is anything but Ballygowan standard but that rationale has gone out the window and the spin now being put on it is that-----

It is Ballymagash standard.

-----certain elements of the bill will be exempt but other elements will not be exempt. In other words, residents may not be able to drink the water but they will be asked to pay for getting rid of that very same water. In its original legislation why did the Government not decide to specifically exempt homes and businesses with a contaminated supply of water from any water charges whatsoever? Will he agree that people should not be issued with a bill from Irish Water until Irish Water is in a position to provide a proper service to them? Will he accept in that context that people issued with boil-water notices should be exempt from day one? Is he now prepared to accept the legislation tabled by my colleague, Deputy Barry Cowen, to amend the original Water Services Bill with a view to ensuring that people would be so exempt?

Why does the Deputy not say that water tax should be abolished completely?

Settle down, Deputy.

I welcome Deputy Martin back and I note his comment about people being concerned about some statements from this side of the House; I am a little concerned about some of the statements he himself has made in the past few days. I think the people would take those into consideration, given that he is now setting his sights on the Labour Party, it seems.

The Taoiseach should answer the question.

I think the Taoiseach has adequately dealt with them.

I know this is the first day back at school but I ask Deputies to settle down please and to get back to normal.

The Government has given two directions. The regulator is to issue its definitive findings and charges in the next week or so. The Government has given two directions to the regulator, that the average meter charge should be €240 - it will be approximately €238 - and that children should be free. That is at a level of 21,000 l, based on surveys carried out by Irish Water and validated by the regulator. The question of boil-water is an issue of great concern to so many people; 18,000 people are currently on boil-water notices. As the Deputy is aware, between 40% and 50% of water leaks are under the ground. This is the situation that was allowed to continue for so many years and it will be of great consolation to the people of Roscommon when the four treatment works currently under way are completed and they will not have boil-water notices in future.

The legislation prepared by Deputy Cowen to which Deputy Martin referred is not acceptable to the Government because the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government considers that existing legislation allows for greater flexibility to deal with issues of contamination of water or if water is not drinkable for whatever reason. The regulator in its indicative document indicated that there would be concessions given in respect of where boil-water notices or contaminated water or water unfit of human consumption would be involved. The regulator will issue its definitive findings next week. Therefore, we do not accept the legislation prepared by Deputy Cowen.

The Taoiseach did not answer the question. I find it incomprehensible that anyone believes people should be charged for a product that is contaminated.

It is illegal.

It is beyond any logic. If water going into a household is contaminated and is not fit for human consumption, how can that family be charged for it? The original legislation should have provided for an exemption from any charge for any family with a contaminated water supply. They are paying for bottled water as it is and they have other costs associated with the fact that the water is contaminated. I find it incomprehensible and I ask the Taoiseach if he accepts the basic principle that if a person's water supply is contaminated he or she should not be obliged to pay for it. It is monstrous. The Taoiseach should listen to people who are in that situation. Whatever one's views on water charges, if the water one is being asked to pay for is dangerous, may cause one to get sick or seriously ill, is contaminated and the authorities say one will have to pay for it as well, this is adding insult to injury, it is arrogance of the highest order and is illogical and incomprehensible. Does the Taoiseach accept it is a basic principle that one should not have to pay for water that is contaminated?

I have never had much time for the Deputy's hypocrisy. His own programme was for higher charges, introduced sooner and with no exemptions.

That is not true.

All of a sudden it is incomprehensible, monstrous and all these things.

It is illegal.

Where is Deputy Martin living?

Do not talk about the law, Mattie.

The Government has issued directions to the regulator which are very clear and which are being implemented.

I think people know where I live.

In its own indicative document, the regulator indicated that its decision will be issued next week on the matter of where boil-water notices or contaminated water is involved.

The Taoiseach did not issue directions.

To answer the Deputy's question I do not accept his party's proposed legislation. The existing legislation allows for greater flexibility-----

The Taoiseach should answer the question he was asked. Does he accept the principle that one should not have to pay for contaminated water?

Deputy Martin comes in here with the same attitude as before the summer break-----

Answer the question, Yes or No.

-----and he let them languish in Roscommon for 40 years with poor water, leaking pipes, boil-water notices, lead pipes and he did nothing about it.

Then, all of a sudden, because he is preparing for the big job or whatever, he suddenly feels that nothing should be charged for at all. I absolutely understand the frustration of people at having to boil water every day-----

The Taoiseach should tell that to his candidate.

-----because of inaction over the years. The plan is being put in place to rectify this problem and all the others associated with neglect, incompetence, mismanagement. Deputy Martin is back to his old ways of tax and spend, higher charges to be introduced sooner and leave them wallow in what they have. Deputy Martin can ask this question next week. The regulator will confirm the position inside the next week.