Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Collins for the presentation. On his comment about the water charges of €232 million, the actual cost of domestic water is significantly higher. It was set at a deliberately low price to try to entice people to pay for it, so it is not really reflective of the actual cost. If water charges had been accepted, they would have increased significantly over the coming years.

The regulation that established the Public Water Forum in 2015 stated that members of the forum had to be registered customers of Irish Water. That was subsequently amended and the witness alluded to that in his presentation. I take it that it was Dr. Collins's point of view that it should be amended. Obviously the Government's view was that it had to be registered customers. Will he expand a little on that process?