John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

What is of most concern about the Fine Gael proposal for establishing a national water company is the lack of evidence or research to back up its approach to the proposed centralisation of water functions. Admittedly, several policy reports and publications have recommended structural reforms for the delivery of water services. The reports of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes and of the high level group on green enterprise both recommended the establishment of a national water authority, while a regional or river basin approach to water services was recommended by the local government efficiency review group and in the OECD environmental performance review of Ireland.

While the Government has not ruled out assessing the need for and role of a national water authority, unlike Fine Gael it will consider this issue on an informed basis.

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