The EU Commission could force the
government to impose far higher water charges on Irish householders because of rules
brought in by the EU Water Framework Directive. That’s the warning from the
Independent MEP Marian Harkin. She says that when Ireland was negotiating the
EU water framework directive it negotiated certain flexibilities that would
enable EU member states not to charge households for water it they didn’t want
to do so. However, Marian Harkin says that Ireland never availed of that facility.
As a result, she says the EU Commission could force the government to get
householders to pay for a range of services connected with the supply of water
to their homes that would dramatically increase the water charges.

Out words: this flexibility

Dur: 00:35