Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My initial reaction to the information provided by the Minister of State is to urge a note of caution. The Committee of Public Accounts has a specific legal and constitutional responsibility. Although it does not exclusively focus on the issue of the use of public money, that is its primary responsibility. The Water Forum is a much broader body, which has a range of different opinions and views on it. I am unsure whether having a level of statutory accountability to both bodies necessarily involves duplication or conflicts. Has this been discussed with the Water Advisory Board? Has its opinion been sought? If it has not, I urge the Department to seek its opinion before any amendment is brought forward. If there has been consultation with the Water Advisory Board, I would like the committee to have sight of the view of the board on the matter. If the Department is not going to do that in advance of any amendment that may be tabled by the Minister, particularly keeping in mind that it might be a late stage amendment on Report Stage and in light of the significant information the Minister of State has just outlined, the Chairman should share that information with the Water Advisory Board and seek its view on the matter for the committee. Obviously, we cannot prejudge an amendment we have not seen, but what has been outlined by the Minister of State would be a significant change from the Bill as it stands.