Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not agreed. I find it extraordinary that the Government proposes to allow only two hours of debate for Second Stage for the Water Services (No. 2) Bill tomorrow, with Committee and Report Stages to be given an hour and a half on the same day. It is an unprecedented level of guillotining of an important and substantial Bill.

This Bill has been significantly changed from the original one published by the Minister. It is significant in the sense that the prohibition on the privatisation of Irish Water and any reference to the Minister are removed from the legislation. This confirms our worst fears that the establishment of Irish Water was the beginning of the road to the privatisation of water provision.

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