Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We can all lay reports before the Houses but that does not equate to democratic accountability. If the water is cut off in Scarriff, Dundalk or any other area, or if the water is discoloured, as Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan pointed out so dramatically this morning, the water services engineers can be brought in before the county council to explain what is happening. There is no such procedure for a local representative to ask what is happening with water in their area when Irish Water has responsibility. There is no provision for a national representative to ask about this either.

If a train does not operate between Dublin and Drogheda, a Deputy has no power to ask why it did not operate. A local elected representative does not have that power either, and perhaps they should not have that power. We are talking about the provision of a service as basic as water, and we are asking people to pay increasing water charges and other charges for local services. At the same time we are asking people to pay more, we are providing less accountability, with fewer possibilities to hold a body accountable for the services provided. Unfortunately, that is not progress.

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