Every day more Ministers suggest they might favour a refund of water charges after all. The Minister, Deputy Coveney may be the last member of Cabinet to hold out on the matter. Reports of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting indicate that the Minister for Finance seems to be well disposed to the notion. Earlier this year, my colleague, Deputy Penrose, prepared a Bill, the water charges (fair treatment of customers) Bill 2016. Unfortunately because it imposes a charge, we cannot introduce it. I ask the Taoiseach to take on board this legislation. If not will he at least give a commitment to support the principle that law-abiding citizens who have paid their lawful charges will get a full refund?

As Deputy Howlin is well aware, a process was set up here whereby a specialist commission was asked to look at the entire issue in relation to water. Charges were suspended during that period. The commission has reported now directly to an all-party committee of both Houses. The Labour Party is represented ably by Deputy Jan O'Sullivan on that committee. The commission's report did not recommend the abolition of water charges. It recommended an increased allowance and a regime for contributions after that. The process is now in place for the committee to do its work. It referred specifically to the point raised by Deputy Howlin where it said that those who had paid their way should not be treated any less fairly than those who had not.

I think it is appropriate that we should let the committee do its work, for which it was set up. It was given a specific remit and there are a range of issues surrounding that, including those who have independent wells, those who have been on group water schemes and those who cannot drink the water because of its quality. In addition, there are 42 towns still discharging raw sewage into lake, river and sea. It is my view that the committee, set up for a specific purpose, should be allowed to do its work, to reflect on the proposed recommendations - on that statement in the commission's report as well as the others - and bring it back to the Oireachtas where a vote will take place in March 2017.