Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My response to both of the Deputy's questions is that the period is not openended. We are talking about providing an extension of time to allow the committee to complete its work. It is a nine-month suspension and if more time is needed to allow the committee to complete its work, let us say they ask for time or if the Minister believes that the committee needs more time, then this legislation grants the power to do so. This is not a case of kicking the matter down the road for two years because nobody wants to deal with an awkward issue. It is a case of ensuring that the Oireachtas and the committee have an opportunity to complete the work that we are trying to do here. The legislation will enable us to put options to the Oireachtas and then have a democratic vote that I hope will be responsible and informed in terms of how we fund the domestic water supply.

I will meet the Commissioner next week and I have already spoken to him on the telephone about this issue. He is happy that I am meeting him to talk through in detail the thinking behind what we are doing here. Anybody who lives outside of Ireland needs to understand that this is a very sensitive political issue, a fact that we have found out in recent days and indeed for the past 18 months or so.

The nine-month suspension period is a review period, then options will be put and a democratic decision will be taken with all of the informed choices taken account of. I believe that the EU Commission will understand what we are trying to do here but I do not want to speak for the Commission. The Commissioner is well able to speak for himself. I would be surprised if we did not get facilitation and some flexibility from the Commission on this matter. We are not abolishing water charges. We are suspending water charges for a period of debate, discussion and reflection. Following all of that then we will make a decision. We will have to make a decision with all of the consequences that come with the different choices that will be presented.

We will wait to see what he has to say. I do not wish to speak for him.

In response to Deputy Jan O'Sullivan's question on public ownership, as per her amendment No. 21, I have said repeatedly that I have an open mind on how we can reassure people that there is no privatisation agenda, because there is no such agenda. The Fine Gael and Labour parties were in Government together-----