Water charges report and debate
Senator O’Brien asks that the Government publish its water-charges report in April and debate it in both Houses before the local elections.
If the Government will have the report in April, it should bring it to both Houses in April, after the Cabinet has seen it, and allow us discuss it, transparency in the process, the general public to budget for the rest of the year and have an idea how much water will cost. I understand the Leader cannot tell me today how much it will cost-----
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-----but I ask for a commitment from the Government that when the report is given to the Cabinet in April, that immediately after the Cabinet meeting it will be published for the general public and debated in the Seanad and the Dáil. I am certain it is not the case that the new reforming Government will hold onto the information until after the local and European elections. I am sure that cannot be true.