Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Seanad chun an ábhar seo a phlé. Ón uair dheireanach a bhí sé anseo roimh an Nollaig, tá go leor díospóireachta faoi cheist Uisce Éireann - an tionchar a bheidh ag an gcomhlacht agus na híocaíochtaí atá déanta ag lucht Uisce Éireann as airgead cáiníocóirí na tíre seo - curtha chun cinn i measc an phobail agus anseo san Oireachtas. Much has been said about Irish Water in recent days and weeks. The establishment of Irish Water was something we questioned in the House prior to Christmas and before it was rammed through Dáil Éireann on the last or second-last sitting day before the Christmas recess.

We asked questions about the establishment costs of Irish Water. My party colleagues in this House and the other House asked those questions but the answers were not forthcoming. It was only when the now chief executive of Irish Water was being questioned on a radio programme that the answers proved to be forthcoming. Perhaps people in government may say that he dropped the ball, in other words, he told the truth or provided the information showing that the set-up of Irish Water has cost €180 million to date.