Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agreed with it at the time. It was a good idea to fast-track projects. There were 17 big projects in all the big towns in south Tipperary and in many of the smaller towns and villages. The schemes were done and handed over to a private company. I cannot recall its name. What is its position now? It is probably eight to ten years into a 20 year design, build and operate contract. Under that contract, I was assured it would hand over the plants in pristine condition, operating almost as they did on the first day apart from the normal wear of parts. What is the position with that project? What about the money that was provided by loan and given out on that contract by the county council at the time, at the behest of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Finance? As Deputy Stanley said, we did not have a choice. If we wanted to get the projects and sewers in the towns, we had to take that route. Otherwise, none of them would have been done. That is not to mention the countless other plants that have not been touched at all.

I am very concerned. The Minister is bringing forward this amendment to the Bill at the eleventh hour. This time last year the last Bill was rushed through the House. We left because there was only three hours for the debate, so one could not debate it. Rushed legislation is bad legislation. There is no time to debate or examine it. The former Minister was smug and scoffed at us when it was passed. His backbenchers told us he did all the heavy lifting and that everything was hunky-dory, but now tá sé imithe and the chickens have come home to roost.

I am extremely concerned about that and the so-called conservation grant. The figures were exposed last week. The Department's figure last week was €130 million. However, Irish Water sent out 2 million packs. It is not hard to break it up; there is no need for any phoney accountancy. It is €200 million, so there is a shortfall of nearly €70 million. The whole thing is farcical and beyond a joke. We are elected by the people, and the people are incensed. Who can blame them?

I would love to be a small businessman or an employee who gets this type of deal. We discussed the employers earlier under the last amendment. This just beggars belief. I am astounded and shocked. If the Minister presses this amendment I, like Deputy Cowen, challenge the four members of the Labour Party who are present. This might be passed, but it will be end game for the Labour Party in my home town of Clonmel, and is mór an trua é sin.

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