John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Two issues arise. Representatives of Irish Water should come before the committee and someone should answer questions on the Poolbeg incinerator project. These are two major issues on which there has been considerable public comment. I stated in public my belief that representatives of Irish Water should appear before the committee. I based that on the suggestion by the Secretary General, Mr. Watt, that the committee have a role in these matters. Mr. Watt stated he was prepared to examine, with the committee, the possibility of examining the start-up costs of Irish Water and the costs the State has incurred to date from the Poolbeg incinerator project. That is the extent of the commentary, if one likes.

I take exception to the fact that, arising from the comment I made and possibly other comments made by members, this legal advice dropped out of the sky last night or this morning. I was not asked about it and I do not know about it. I am simply reacting to conversations we had with the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the interest expressed by members. Legal advice should be given after it has been sought, not on the basis of information that appears in the press or comments made by someone else. The legal advisers will be very busy if they propose to adopt an approach of responding to every comment that is made. Frankly, I find it ridiculous and a waste of money.