Minister Frances Fitzgerald defends methods for water bill collection

Radical measures to collect unpaid water bills have been defended by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald who says only fractions of people’s social welfare payments may be deducted as a last resort in some cases.

The Fine Gael minister was speaking as the Dáil debated legislation which will allow utility companies bring people to court and deduct their wages or dole if bills are left unpaid.

The new measures, under the Civil Debt Bill, will include unpaid water charges but were met with anger by Opposition TDs yesterday. The legislation will be voted on next week.