Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This issue has been raised previously and it has been shown to be without foundation. In fact, the position is laid down in statute. Section 46 of the Water Services Act (No. 2) 2013 expressly provides that neither the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government or the Minister for Finance nor Bord Gais Éireann, now entitled Ervia, can dispose of their shares in Irish Water. This provides a clear legal prohibition on the sale of Irish Water.

To conclude, as has been clearly outlined today and last night, the policy and legislative framework the Government has already put in place addresses the objectives of this Bill in a more comprehensive and, indeed, flexible manner. On that basis, the Government is opposing the Bill.

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