Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We agreed terms of reference for the commission when we put together, with Fianna Fáil, a confidence and supply agreement on the commission. To be fair, the idea that we will now start debating and changing the terms of reference is not a reasonable request. We made the purpose of the commission clear. A group of people with considerable knowledge of issues related to water, including charging and conservation, would examine all the issues in an informed manner, produce a report and make recommendations. We then indicated that a committee would take these recommendations but would not be bound by them, although I presume the committee's work would be guided by the detail of the report produced by the commission. The committee will make its own judgment on what is appropriate and fair and what should be put before the Dáil and Seanad to be voted on. That is how the commission will work.