Christina Finn here, following all the happenings at Leaders’ Questions. If you have any thoughts, comments, or opinions, you can leave a comment below or tweet us @thejournal_ie.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is heading Stateside today, so Education Minister Richard Bruton is stepping into his shoes for Leaders’ Questions today. He’s likely to face questions about the expert commission’s report on water charges that was published yesterday.
Enda Kenny is flying to San Francisco this afternoon, so he’s unable to take Leaders’ Questions.
Never fear, Richard Bruton has said he is only delighted to take the Taoiseach’s place.
He’s likely to be asked about the expert commission’s report on the future of water charges. It has dominated the news today. You can read all about it here:
Micheál Martin is up. He wants to talk about the Orkambi drug for those in Cystic Fibrosis.
Read more about the drug here and the recent leak about the HSE decision.
He is recounting the story of one patient whose life has changed after taking the drug.
Martin said the leak about the decision by the HSE about the drug was “heartless and disgraceful”. He says there seems to be a conscious effort to “talk down” the effects of the drug.
The Fianna Fáil leader wants to know will the government step up and make this drug available.
Richard Bruton says the decision about drugs like this has been taken out of the political sphere.
“The effectiveness and the cost” have to be considered,” says Bruton.
He says there have been intense discussions to reach an agreement.
Canada and Australia have not been reached with Vertex – the company that makes the drug. Bruton says Health Minister Simon Harris is now aligning himself with other health ministers around the world who are also in negotiation.
There goes someone’s mobile phone again as Martin tells Bruton he doesn’t accept the answer from Bruton.
He says Ireland should be leading in this area. Martin says he knows the minister can move on this and has done so in the past with other drugs.
Listing of a number of countries, Bruton said they are all have difficulty dealing with the Vertex company.
Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald is on her feet now.
She brings up the report published yesterday in relation to water charges.
“We do not support a charge for those with excessive use,” she said.
McDonald said a low charge would only lead to hiking up the price later on.
“How could anyone trust you not to increase water charges in the future,” she added.
No water charges through the front door or the back door.
She wants to know will those that have not paid been pursued or will those who have paid have their money refunded.
Bruton said they have to look at those that did their “civic duty by paying their water charges” are treated equitably.
The report finds the polluter pay principle will ensure those use excessive water will be charged. He said he is happy to tease all these matters out by the Oireachtas committee which will have its first meeting next Tuesday.
“I think there is very valuable fruit for thought,” he states.
“We do need to have a sustainable approach.” He says parties shouldn’t “grandstand” on certain issues.
McDonald said Minister Simon Coveney stated that those who have not been paid will be pursued. She said lots of people paid up because they were “brow-beaten and bullied” into paying.
Others could not pay, she said. The deputy Sinn Féin leader said the public who paid and those that did not pay want answers today as to where they stand.
Bruton said it is unfair to say that politicians were only elected on one issue alone, such as abolishing water charges.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin is now talking about the public ownership of water, reading out sections of the report published yesterday.
The Dáil has already passed the bill to ensures and protects state ownership of water services.
He said this will prevent the “disaster” of the selling off of the telecoms industry. Howlin says there is a real “distrust” of politicians on this issue now.
Howlin wants to know if government will support the calls for a referendum to keep water in public ownership and wants to know will it take place next year.
He also wants any Cabinet briefings on the matter to be published.
Bruton said the water legislation already provides legal protection to prevent the sale of water services.
I am of the view we need to protect our core networks, he says, stating that some other countries have made mistakes in this regard, as has this state.
The education minister says it would be wrong to preempt the work of the committee who have three months from January to consider the report.
Howlin said those that paid their water charges in good faith get a full reimbursement.
He said that is a matter for the committee and said as a former expenditure minister he should understand that he cannot stand up in the chamber and make that commitment today.
Richard Boyd Barrett stands up and welcomes the politics students from Sallynoggin College present in the public gallery.
He said the water report is a “fudge” and leaves the door open for water charges with the use of the terms about excessive water charges.
The AAA-PBP says the Irish people are prudent in their use of water and it is the businesses that use the most water.
He says the people don’t want water charges rolled up and presented as something else, which is what he says Fianna Fáil would like to do.
Boyd Barrett also takes a side swipe at the party about the invitation to Bertie Ahern to rejoin the party.
What do you make of that one, by the way? We want to know.
Boyd Barrett tells the minister not to insult the people that took to the street to protest against water charges.
Charges do not reduce water usage.
I suggest minister you do your research.
“Accept the will and intelligence of the people that have taken to the streets. They want conservation just as much as you,” says Boyd Barrett.
He calls on government to bring in a conservation grant that will enable people to bring in water-saving initiatives in their homes.
“You have never done that.”
That’s it for Leaders’ Questions for today. You can continue to watch the Dáil’s proceedings here. Join us tomorrow for more of the happenings around Leinster House.
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