Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

As I noted last Friday, section 7 would establish a public water forum. I ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to withdraw the section because it is worse than useless. It is just a smoke screen for Irish Water, the Minister and his Department. We found it impossible to get answers from either the Minister or Irish Water regarding domestic water charges. On three occasions in the past week I raised a question with the Minister but he has not yet addressed it. The forum will comprise at least 12 and not more than 60 members. In effect, it will be another quango. It is not clear what functions it will perform or what interests its membership will represent. Will people who are strongly in favour of privatisation be represented on the forum? Will the members be nominated on the same basis as every other committee established during this Dáil, with a ratio of 2:1 of Fine Gael and Labour Party representatives? That is how nominations have been made to various boards, committees and authorities. Will the nominees be paid and, if so, what level of payment is proposed? Will they be entitled or encouraged to waive payments? How much will this cost overall? How many staff, and what grades, will be appointed to support the forum in performing its functions? What will be the forum's overall costs? In view of the fact that we have been able to get very little information, the Minister would do well to withdraw the section.

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