Mr. Aidan Dunning:

We do not have a direct role in Irish Water. The responsibility for water services rests with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. However, in light of the recent decision by the Government to establish Irish Water as a State body with responsibility for all matters relating to the provision of water services and the fact that Bord Gáis Éireann won the competition to implement that decision, a subsidiary of Bord Gáis called Irish Water is being established. Bord Gáis is a semi-state company that reports to our Department so we have a clear interest in that issue. In addition, the energy regulator has also been given the responsibility of regulating the water charges in the future. As the committee saw from the annual report and accounts of Bord Gáis which were issued yesterday, it is a strong company in a robust position that is delivering good dividends to the State. It does very good work in respect of its core energy functions. We and it are happy that it can take on what is a major job in terms of delivering the mandate Irish Water will be given. We will keep in close touch with this as it develops in terms of how it is being implemented, particularly in respect of any impact it may have on the finances of Bord Gáis generally. We have no reason to believe it will not be able to deliver and do what it has been requested to. I know it has put a very strong planning regime in place for the implementation of Irish Water and has already spent a significant amount of funds on setting it up.