Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no issue about this. On Committee Stage, I will be happy to listen to arguments on this and I do not see a problem in this regard if we include what is in the 2007 Act in this Bill. I will be happy to take seriously the issues raised and to deal with them then.

Deputy Murphy raised an important point with regard to flat rate charges. There will not be a flat rate charge. It is true that all houses will not be metered before charges commence. However, before charging commences, we will ensure in a transparent, accountable manner in the House that clarity is provided on the charge. It will be based on occupancy, volumetric use and best international practice. The system will not work unless it is fair and seen to be fair.

The job for the chief executive of Irish Water was advertised by Bord Gáis independently of publicjobs.ie and the competition was open and transparent. The man who got the job, John Tierney, is the current Dublin City Council manager. He has a lifetime of experience in working with local government and in dealing with water infrastructure, specifically in Dublin which faces serious issues with regard to water. I believe a better person could not have been appointed by public competition for the serious and important job of head of Irish Water. I welcome his appointment and see it as an important step. With regard to concerns about local government employment, Mr. Tierney is from and is part of local government and has worked in it all his life.

An important issue raised by many Deputies is the question of planning. If Donegal County Council, Kerry County Council or some other council want development, we must ensure there is joined-up thinking between local authorities' decisions on planning and development and between regional and national planning. We must ensure that when any conflicts arise, there will be proper accountability. We must have a fair and sensible structure we can all sign off on so that a development plan and Uisce Éireann plans will link into each other and make sense. If there are disputes, we must ensure we can resolve them. It is important we know how they can be resolved before they arise.

With regard to the role of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, they have important plans that must be considered. However, a developer might want to build an industry in a place a county council or the Department never considered for development. We must be able to deal with these issues. We must be able to provide the resources for improving the water structure in those areas.

One of the important issues for many people concerns what happens outside their doors. Deputy Wallace raised significant points in this regard. We will be happy to go through the practical issues on Committee Stage concerning how this will operate and the protocols that exist between Uisce Éireann and local authorities. The restoration of footpaths and roadways is critical. We will ensure there is certainty with regard to how this will be done right across the country. We will have protocols in place and there will be no cowboys involved. There will be a direct line of responsibility, from the local contractor to the regional contractor and to Irish Water.

Members have raised the issue of water supply being cut off. I see no eventuality where people's water will be cut off. However, there is a difference with regard to people who can afford to pay but will not. I was in the UK recently and looked at a strategy for dealing with that situation. There are people who can well afford to pay but do not and there are ways to deal with that so that they will pay. With regard to those with issues relating to income, poverty or unemployment, the Government will make a decision on that. Currently, the Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Social Protection and so on are debating and examining these issues. We will have transparency and accountability on those issues in the Oireachtas before everything is finalised. The role of the independent regulator will be critical and its powers and how it will operate must be dealt with clearly.

With regard to accountability to the Oireachtas, the legislation states an annual report must be laid before the Dáil. In the past such a provision has led at least to a debate in committee. A committee discusses the report and debates it. Obviously, there are serious issues with regard to water and water strategy and these may warrant more than just an annual report. Therefore, on Committee Stage of this Bill, we need to tease out how we can ensure there will greater accountability to the Oireachtas. We must tease out the important issues for Members, the public and local government. It is important local councillors who currently can query and access water infrastructure issues will be able to get answers. Therefore the accountability of Irish Water to the Oireachtas and to regional assemblies is important in terms of planning and local accountability.

One good thing we can say about Bord Gáis, which will obviously extend to Irish Water, is that its customer service is second to none. It is fantastic. If customers have a problem, they ring up and get the facts and action is taken.

I want to make sure Irish Water is an accountable and transparent body. In that context, I note the recent comments by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, on the application of the freedom of information regime to Irish Water. Obviously, he will have to bring that matter before the House. It is an important issue for me.

I do not wish to strike a note of discord when I say that the former Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, must have been taking a water break when Fianna Fáil's national recovery plan was published in November 2010. Under the plan, it was agreed to borrow from the National Pensions Reserve Fund for water metering. The Deputy must have a serious problem with his memory, because he said he has no recollection of Fianna Fáil agreeing with the EU, the ECB and the IMF that a single water utility should be established. I say that as a political point. I know I do not have much time left-----

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