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

This legislation serves to give Irish Water the power to be incorporated as a company and to do the work of metering. All the other issues raised are important and one of those issues is in the Bill. There will be an annual report laid before the Oireachtas and it will be a matter for debate here.

I agree with the points made on how significant water policy is and will continue to be. I expect that by the time the second Bill comes before the Houses we will be laying out the other necessary measures of accountability there should be through the Oireachtas, local councils, regional water authorities or whatever. We must have a structure and have clearly defined roles. Importantly, there must be areas where councillors and councils have development plans. Clearly the development plan of a given council will have an impact on water policy in that area.

We will need joined-up thinking between the local authority, Irish Water and the Government. Clear lines of communication and decision processes will be called for to resolve the problems that will arise. I expect these issues will be addressed in the next phase. At this stage Irish Water will not own anything. It is not being given any assets which, as Deputy Cowen rightly noted, have to be assessed. There is no transfer of assets in this respect. All of that is to come, including the articles of association for the company, and we will have an opportunity to discuss them fully in the second phase. The points raised will be taken on board in that context.