Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests, particularly Mr. Quinn, and I congratulate him on his appointment. I wish him every success and I worked closely with him when he was with Bord na Móna. I hope we can continue that relationship. A long and arduous process, as the witnesses know all too well, was put in place to deal with the unfortunate period that saw the setting up of Irish Water and the implementation of water charges. There was a compromise initiated during the process to facilitate the formation of government, and from my party's perspective, this involved the retention of Irish Water itself. How it was funded and how it is to be funded in future was subsequently addressed, following Oireachtas approval and special committee recommendations. From here we seek to move forward.

I note what the Department and Minister have said in the presentation laid before the committee this morning. I also note the commitment to the capital development programme and maintenance programme, which has been reaffirmed. As other speakers have alluded to, in the context of the national planning framework and development plan there is an unaltered and uncompromised commitment, which I welcome. There are improved accountability measures as a result of the process I mentioned, and Irish Water will be obliged to adhere to those in future. That is welcome and it compares favourably to the position of some years ago. The forum will improve accountability and transparency and Irish Water will have to provide greater accountability to Oireachtas scrutiny. Will the Department elaborate on the progress being made in setting up that board, when it is expected to be completed and when it will be operational. It is important the public sees it up and running and representing their interests, as well as those of everyone else.

I further appreciate the contention from Irish Water that there could be potential improvements in a renegotiation of the service level agreement and that it can deliver greater efficiencies or bang for one's buck, as well as improvements to services for consumers. That contention will be investigated and negotiated in discussions involving the relevant stakeholders. Nobody here should pre-empt that process or look to solve impending questions that will no doubt come to light during the process. I welcome that those negotiations are due to commence.

I hope, expect and acknowledge that everyone will go into the talks in good faith and with the intention of representing their interests and those of their sector as well as the greater good of the taxpayer. I welcome the comments of the Minister as mentioned by the Department in regard to assurances having been given from that quarter that service level agreements currently in place will remain so until amendment thereto is agreed by all parties. Assurance is also given that no compulsory redundancies will result from the transformation process. As regards the point alluded to by Ms Graham regarding costs that may accrue to local authorities resultant from possible changes, a commitment and guarantee has been given that those will not be borne by ratepayers but will be funded by the Department as is its obligation in regard to the Vote it provides for this area.

As regards the impending discussions and negotiations, it was mentioned that party to them will be the County and City Management Association and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which I presume represents all workers affected by the negotiations and any agreement thereafter. I trust and expect that the unions will serve the interests of their staff well and will be cognisant of staff who may be taken on in the future and that the rights associated with such employments will also be best represented by the unions.

I am nervous in regard to there being no direct role for local authority members in the process. I would have hoped for their participation, considering they are the most accountable to their electorate in regard to the provision of services on the ground, in conjunction with local authorities and Irish Water in recent times by virtue of the service level agreements and, more historically, solely with local authorities. As other members have mentioned, local authority members are at the coalface and have the expertise and local knowledge regarding the historical significance of the provision of that service. They are greatly cognisant that they wish that to be maintained and improved and should have a role in ensuring they can stand over any new service level agreement based on their experience and in their capacity as public representatives. Do the witnesses think it would be wise to consider a representative body of councillors being privy to the negotiations and discussions in order to ensure wholesale support and approval for any process or agreement that emanates from them?