Howlin: People want water charges legislation passed
Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin says the public will face higher water charge bills if the Seanad rejects the Government’s revised bill.
There are concerns within the coalition that Independent and opposition Senators could scupper the new package of lower charges for households - and lead to the old billing structure applying from January 1.
Minister Brendan Howlin says opposition TDs are determined to drag the issue out for as long as possible.
But he says that would not be in the public interest.
"Not only in terms of the charging regime, but the concerns relating to it remaining in public ownership, and the concerns that Irish Water wouldn't have access, for example, to people's PPS numbers," he said.
"So all of those matters are part of this piece of legislation and that's why I think it's important that it should be passed.
"And I think people, by and large, want it passed."
