Ms Maria Graham:

Those restrictions are not subject to ministerial consent. The Act says:

Notwithstanding any provision of this or any other enactment, a water services authority [which is now Irish Water] shall not enter into any agreement or arrangement with another person...for the provision of water services jointly with or on behalf of the authority which—(i) involves or may involve the transfer of the water service's assets or infrastructure, or any part of such assets or infrastructure, to that person

That protection for assets remains in place.