Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will be disappointed if Deputy Colreavy divides the House on a Bill that, fairly exceptionally in my experience, has attracted support from all sides of the House, including not just the parties and formal groupings in the House but also the Independent Deputies and so on. This is especially so since, I repeat, I am satisfied there is a misunderstanding between the Deputy and myself. The insertion of the word "selling" where it is contextualised in the Bill is not about the selling of the company or shares in the company, or anything like that. Taking it out is not going to achieve what Deputy Colreavy seeks, but it would remove the vires that is essential for the company to make the services available, which is the purpose of this Bill in the first place. Therefore, if we removed "selling", where the Bill enables leasing, licensing and selling, it would make a nonsense of the legislation. I repeat it is not an enabling term to facilitate the privatisation of the company.

I can give Deputy O'Donovan the assurance he has sought in respect of the wayleave issue. There is no question of workers, employees or staff of companies other than the ESB's direct workforce being enabled by this legislation to incurse onto private lands. This legislation will enable the use of the existing supply system and, irrespective of it being open access and so on, the actual technical works necessary will be done by the direct employees of the ESB.

In that regard, I can certainly join Deputy Coffey and repeat what I have said in public in acknowledging the extraordinary effort made by ESB workers in the unprecedented severity of the weather conditions we are experiencing. Ever since 18 December last, there have been severe difficulties every week. This has posed enormous strain on the workforce concerned.

They have rallied in almost impossible conditions. My understanding from the chief executive of the ESB is that it was so bad yesterday, particularly in parts of the south and south west, that it was unsafe for ESB workers to go out at the height of the storm. Since then, they have been doing everything humanly possible to restore power to unfortunate people who have been worst affected.

Given that we are dealing with a Bill about communications, the same situation applies in respect of Eircom workers. Some 60,000 homes have been deprived of a service and Eircom workers are engaged in trying to restore service as early as possible. It is appropriate at a time like this to pay tribute to these workers in their struggle against the elements to restore service to people who have been worst affected. I join with Deputy Coffey in including local authority workers and emergency workers generally who have been called out for us in unprecedented and uniquely bad circumstances. We are grateful for their dedication in that regard.

I reiterate what Deputy Coffey said. All I can say is that the thrust of this Bill is not about privatisation. It is enshrined in the Irish water legislation that it will not be privatised. Other than incorporating it in law, I do not see what one can do. Deputy Colreavy is right. There may be a government of a different complexion at some stage in the future but all this Government can do is enshrine it in law, which it has done. In respect of critical infrastructure, be it the gas or energy networks, it is not the intention to privatise them and the new water utility is under State ownership.

Deputy Coffey is correct. It is a commercial venture.

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