Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a lesson here for the future for the Committee of Public Accounts and everyone else. I accept that when it gets up and running, Irish Water will probably be an efficient organisation. I will put questions to the Commission for Energy Regulation on that matter in a moment. I count some 12 organisations or entities that played a role in the establishment of Irish Water but I am sure there are more. There is something wrong with our system if it takes that level of involvement to get an organisation up and running.

I wish to deal now with what Irish Water will be doing in 2014. What will be its income for this year? Since 1 January, all commercial water rates payable by schools, hospitals, voluntary organisations, shops, farmers, businesses, etc., are payable to the company. I presume that payments in respect of the bills that will be issued this year will be made to Irish Water. Will Mr. Tierney confirm that those payments will be made to the company during 2014?