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

Arrangements for communication between Uisce Éireann and elected representatives will take place in January. Irish Water and local authorities will establish local points of contact in keeping with the expectations of elected representatives. The contact point will be a local official who knows the water services. I mentioned a hotline for councillors. In addition to these reactive measures, Uisce Éireann intends to develop a proactive communication system with elected representatives, including SMS alerts of operational activities or incidents, regular briefings and information on significant milestones, and proactive engagement on the development of major capital infrastructure. The metering regional communications team will continue to be a point of contact.

Irish Water will be required to submit an annual report that will be laid before the Oireachtas, which can debate it in the House. If requested by Oireachtas committees to appear, Irish Water is obliged to come in to discuss issues. I was not aware of the situation in County Clare but I will bring it to the attention of my officials. I will get a response for the Deputy. The key is that there is accountability through Parliament.

Accountability also exists through the Commission for Energy Regulation. When Irish Water produces its development plan for water infrastructure, it will provide it to the energy regulator, which must go through it line by line and examine and analyse the cost of operations in detail. It will be a public document open for public debate and discussion. Before the regulator makes a decision, the document will be in the public domain and everyone will have an opportunity to make comments. It is critical that we have this level of communication. Every indication from the regulator, whom I met yesterday, and Irish Water is that it will happen. While the regulator's decision cannot be changed and we do not have the power to do so, the Government can direct Irish Water or the regulator to do certain things in matters of Government policy.

I appreciate the weakness in the HSE which led to the current situation. I am convinced by the commitments we have and by the independent regulator, who will assert independence and accountability and will be proactive in communicating and putting out information. While the Bill will probably pass today, we have one year to get the detail of how it will work correct. We can tease out these issues between now and then and I am confident that we will satisfy people on these points.

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