Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I cannot give a timeline. The intention is to have the wording ready for the end of this year or early 2023. That would put the commission in place and it would then get moving on a timeline for a referendum and referendum campaign.

Uisce Éireann will remain in public ownership so a referendum aside, the programme for Government includes a commitment that Irish Water will be retained in public ownership as a national, stand-alone, regulated utility. However, I fully appreciate the assurance Deputy O'Callaghan has spoken about with regard to having that enshrined in the Constitution as an added safeguard. It is important from my perspective and that of the Government that the referendum take place.