Mr. Paul McGowan:

I thank the Deputy. I will take the last question first, to which she has anticipated my answer. Clearly it is not within our remit to offer advice on the health impact or otherwise of water fluoridation. I am aware it has been a matter of public debate. It is a matter for public debate and public policy but also Irish Water would have a voice in that debate and would, ultimately, comply with the outcome, whatever it was. It would be outside the remit of the regulator to offer a view on that issue. We would expect, if there was a clear policy on the issue, that Irish Water would comply with it in the most efficient way.

The Deputy did not raise a question but made an opening remark around affordability. Perhaps I should clarify. Affordability measures are a matter for the Government. Affordability is very much a matter for us in terms of our role as economic regulator. It is our role to ensure that only the costs that are warranted and that are incurred efficiently pass through to the customer. That is about affordability. Therefore, we are concerned about affordability. Once we have determined a reasonable economic level of revenue or charges we do not have a remit as to what particular targeted affordability measures may be put in place by Government. Clearly that is a matter for Government. I reassure the Deputy that we are concerned about the overall affordability of water and ensuring only efficiently incurred costs pass through to the customer.

It is difficult for me to give the Deputy direct answers in respect of many of the questions she raised around the letter from John Tierney. I can take it away and look at the particular issues.