Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----of the Bill and the fact that we were not provided with the relevant figures.

Amendment No. 29 is very good in that it moves the concept of the forum away from reference to "customers". Citizens of this State are increasingly being turned into customers and consumers by the Government. In that context, the amendment refers to householders, commercial water users - obviously, commercial water use is a key element in the context of the remit of Irish Water - and representatives of the trade union movement. As the Minister is aware, the latter have expressed their intense disapproval of the entire construction that is Irish Water.

The amendment is very timely, particularly in the context of questions regarding the Minister and the performance of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. This State has a chequered history when it comes to the performance of its regulators. The House has not yet had an opportunity to consider that matter. In the past ten to 15 years, the phenomenon of regulatory capture has arisen whereby regulators have effectively been nullified by major companies operating in certain sectors. As a result of this kind of capture, the regulators involved tend to dance to the tune of the companies in question. In this instance, we are dealing with a company which will have a monopoly and which may be privatised at some point in the future.

The machinations of Irish Water and CER have been designed to totally confuse the people and householders of Ireland. I am of the view, therefore, that it would be appropriate to expand the concept of the public water forum to ensure that ordinary householders will have some say. I regret that the establishment of a forum of this nature is necessary.

I appeal to the Minister, particularly after the debacle of last night and the performance of the Department, to give consideration to withdrawing all of this nonsense and water taxes and returning the water function to the local authorities which can produce water at a far cheaper rate. I warmly support Deputy Stanley's amendment.

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