Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Given the fact Irish Water will be a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann and that company is earmarked for privatisation under NewERA, it puts Irish Water in a precarious position. While I accept the Minister's claim it is not the Government's intention to put Uisce Éireann at risk of privatisation, events move on. If one had asked a Minister in 1983 when Telecom Éireann was set up if it would be privatised down the line, he would have said it was not his intention for that to happen to the company. We have seen the difficulties caused by water privatisation across the water in England. Water companies there charge astronomical water bills, metering has not been completed in some areas and the executives of some of them are earning astronomical salaries and bonuses.

Householders in parts of England are paying vast water fees. There is a genuine concern that in several years’ time the Minister of State or someone else in government may be unable to make changes. Events may overtake the Government of the day and because the company is out and under the umbrella of a company that will be substantially privatised, events could put the Government in a position whereby it may be unable to stop any adverse events.