Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Tierney. He says Irish Water has no role in the process of responding to parliamentary questions. The Minister’s answer to me was that the Department would be in touch with Irish Water which would, in turn, give me an answer. I have not heard from it. It has public relations people at its disposal. Is it not their job to watch out for the publication of such questions? Did the Department or some of his own staff make Mr. Tierney aware of the questions asked? Was there a decision not to respond? Was the Department not in touch with him? Was he not in touch with it to give an answer? I am at a loss to know how this process breaks down. Like everybody else here, I am elected with a duty to the taxpayer to question and hold bodies to account for how they spend their funds. I am simply trying to do my job. Who is not doing his or her job? Why am I and others not getting the answers to which we believe the taxpayer is entitled?