Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----given the calamitous economic circumstances in which Fianna Fáil left the country, looking at the question of how we could invest to improve the quality, volume and integrity of the water system for the next 50 years, the Government made its decision after having looked at the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. The question was whether we should set up Irish Water as an entity on its own, or as an entity that might be amalgamated or part of another commercial company, such as Bord na Móna or Bord Gáis Éireann. Despite the fact PwC made recommendations, the Government made its decision on the basis of setting up Irish Water with a view to being able to borrow off balance sheet to provide decent investment for infrastructure for water for business and for domestic consumers alike. The Government made its decision after very careful deliberation.

As the Deputy knows, by the end of November the merged unitary board of Ervia and Irish Water will take place because the remit of the current board ends at the end of November. The decision to have a unitary board with personnel with specialist credentials will obviously apply.

It is not a case of call-out charges having been endorsed or approved at a level of €188. I have no idea where that came from, but the regulator may be addressing that at the Oireachtas committee meeting today.

The Deputy referred to the shabby treatment of the chief executive officer.

See this speech in context