Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to address some of the issues regarding this legislation, beginning with the primary issue of privatisation. The main concern of people as expressed to me both inside and outside the House, is that our water resources will be privatised. This is a serious concern. I welcome the commitment in this regard in the legislation, but it does not go far enough. I believe we should have a referendum on Irish Water to ensure that our natural resource is forever retained in the ownership of the people. I understand that as matters stand currently, the Minister for Finance and Irish Water own the shares. It is essential we provide reassurance to people on this issue. I see no reason this should not happen. Several referenda are planned and there is no reason we cannot have one on water. This would give the clear message to all that we value this resource and that it will always remain in public ownership, no matter what any future government does. Regardless of what any future government might do, its hands should be tied on this issue and our water resources should remain in the hands of the people. I will support this Bill as it is an improvement on what was planned, but it does not go far enough.

In regard to the board of Ervia, formerly Bord Gáis, as far as I understand Irish Water was set up as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis, but totally separate from it. In other words, notwithstanding that we needed a State agency to set up the body, provide services to it and provide professional and commercial knowledge, it was important that Irish Water or Uisce Éireann was totally separate from any other board, body or entity as soon as reasonable and possible. Obviously, having set up Irish Water, Bord Gáis has some reason to continue with it because of conditional borrowing and financial and other instruments in place. However, within a reasonable period, probably within the next year or so, there is no reason for Ervia to be involved in Irish Water at all. I believe services Ervia may be supplying to Irish Water should all be opened up to tender by other companies. The provision of skills and knowledge is one thing, but the provision of services to Irish Water should be open to competition. Therefore, it is essential that from some future date, Ervia should have no involvement with Irish Water.

Dealing with these two issues, privatisation and Ervia, would ensure the people can have confidence in Irish Water. They would know the resource could never be sold off or privatised and that the only business to be conducted at board meetings of Irish Water would be the business of Irish Water. That is all that would be brought to the table. On the question of who will be on the board, I welcome the fact the Government is seeking people in the public domain with experience and knowledge to put their names forward. I hope that when it makes these decisions, it will look particularly at consumers, domestic consumers and their representatives, consumer groups and commercial consumers.

I would like to respond to some points made earlier. Deputy Daly made a point about local authorities. With respect, her point was badly made. She made the point that the 34 local authorities provide services on a regional basis, but they do not. Some of the authorities in the greater Dublin area work together, but until 1 January there were 34 separate local authorities.

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