Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The fact that we are discussing this in retrospect is part of the problem. We need freedom of information because there is a lack of transparency in how we do things. Whether one can have full transparency here is another matter. It is clear that we did not know, but the Department knew, there were very sizeable amounts and I will not ask the witnesses to comment on that because, as they said, it is the political side of things.

The architecture of the proposed Irish Water is cryptic. It has service level agreements with the local authorities, which will continue to be the direct employers of the staff who will predominantly carry out the work. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, will oversee the cost. Irish Water will run it. Pardon me for being sceptical but we have not been good at building good institutions and we have not had a great heritage in that regard. It looks a little like the HSE from where I am standing and alarm bells are ringing. It remains to be seen what the nature of it will be.

How many people is it expected Irish Water will directly employ? Will the local authorities continue to levy development contributions and will they be directly payable to Irish Water? How will that kind of thing work in terms of an income? Part of the reason local authorities would have employed consultants, and it is part of the same reason the witnesses are talking about in terms of designing facilities, is because they would not have had the in-house expertise. Will there be the in-house expertise in Irish Water or will it continue to put out work to consultants when it designs or upgrades water or wastewater facilities?