Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I heard the Minister talk about a plebiscite. I got some legal advice on this as well. No Government can bind its successor. Nobody is accusing the Minister or this Government of privatising water tomorrow, next week or during its term but we must look to the future in five, ten or 15 years time. The only way we can guarantee this will not happen is through a referendum. A plebiscite will not stand up in respect of successive Governments. It is worrying that a former Minister of State, who was involved in this whole water debacle, has said that there are outside forces trying to privatise water. We must realise there is €15 billion worth of infrastructure, between water treatment plants, pipe work in the ground and so on. We have huge infrastructure paid for by the taxpayer. We have made mistakes in the past and things have been privatised which we now regret. Nobody is accusing the Minister or the Government of doing this now but for the security of the Irish people, the taxpayer and our country, the Minister should consider holding a referendum.

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