Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is no provision, high up or low down, that Irish Water shall answer questions from elected representatives pertaining to its areas of responsibility.

Will the Minister of State accept an amendment to that effect or introduce something on Report Stage?

I accept the Minister of State has the best intentions and Irish Water may even have good intentions but we are setting up yet another unaccountable body. There is no legislative provision for elected representatives to be able to ask questions and receive answers. If we are not elected to ask questions and receive answers, what are we doing here and what do we expect elected representatives to do in future? We are taking away democratic accountability on water services, which rests currently with local authorities, and replacing it with no democratic accountability. Will the Minister of State please accept an amendment to make Irish Water accountable? Surely accountability is part of what this Government is about.

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