Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All the questions Senators have raised, specifically those raised by Senator Mullen with regard to expenditure, will be answered in the Oireachtas. There can be nothing hidden and full transparency must apply in respect of all of these costs. The Freedom of Information Act should apply to each and every cost from the moment the first penny was spent.

The national water supply system is significantly and seriously challenged. The establishment of Irish Water is the way to address this challenge. I stress again, notwithstanding all the difficulties Senators have with Irish Water, that there is transparency and there will be accountability. That is my only interest in this regard. Accountability must apply to all expenditure of Irish Water and under the legislation Members are entitled to and will be provided with all relevant information. I have spent a great deal of time on the legislation because I want it to be right. I will not stand over something that is not transparent or accountable.

Two questions were asked in the Dáil in November, one by Deputy Barry Cowen and another by Deputy Kevin Humphreys.

Both Deputies asked specifically about the set-up costs of Irish Water. I said in my answer that I had asked the Department to forward those questions to Irish Water for direct reply. If those questions had been answered by Irish Water, in line with the instruction I gave the Department, we would not have had this problem at all. I received a letter yesterday from the Secretary General apologising for the Department's oversight.