Water charges enforcement legislation
Deputy Coppinger asks about legislation concerning unpaid water charges and proposed court enforcement of non-payment. The Tánaiste says work is ongoing and provides no date for any such legislation.
Regarding the Water Services Bill and water charges, when will legislation be brought to the House regarding council and private tenants and the plans to extract unpaid water bill arrears from them? In addition, when will the threatened legislation from the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, be brought to the House regarding the so-called proposal to fast-track non-payments through the court system, or is this just a figment of the Labour Party's imagination and being used as a fictitious threat against the boycott movement?
Comment on this
Work is ongoing by the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, on the Water Services Bill. I am not clear what the Deputy talked about after that. She mentioned flights of imagination. Is that what she wants in the Bill? I could not hear the Deputy properly.
Comment on this
It was reported in The Irish Times that the Attorney General met with the Economic Management Council, which comprises the Tánaiste and three or four other Ministers, to discuss proposals to fast-track non-payers through the courts. I know it is bluster, but can the Tánaiste say if there is any truth in that and when this legislation will be available?