This project has been the subject of considerable debate in this Chamber and of strong cross-party support since it was announced in 2018. There will be further delays. Those delays will be as a result of the imposition of the four-stage approval process by the Department. The four stages include unnecessary design approval, cost appraisal and lengthy procurement. We argued with Darragh O'Brien previously that this could be used as a pilot to run those approvals in parallel with tendering and procurement. We stated that we would work with the Department to try to achieve that. The latter is something that Dublin City Council would like to see. Is that something the Minister is willing to explore? Will the Minister confirm if the loan approval sought by Dublin City Council been sanctioned by his Department? If not, when will it be granted?

Sentiment score: 0.25

I welcome the new Deputy's strong opposition to the introduction of this unjustified charge. I just want to let him know that in a matter of weeks we will table legislation - to be debated in this House - to remove Part 2 of the Water Services Act 2017 to ensure that neither this nor a future Government can introduce such a charge. I very much look forward to the Deputy's and the Minister's strong support for removing that Part from the original legislation. We simply do not trust his Government on this issue. However, if the Deputy puts his money where his mouth is when we introduce the Bill and votes for it, we might take a different view on the matter.

Sentiment score: 0.33

We voted against the Government legislation.

Sentiment score: 0.00