Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this section is to increase the maximum number of members who may be appointed to the board of Ervia. This measure is part of a reorganisation in the corporate governance structure of Ervia and Irish Water about which many Deputies have spoken.

In response to the issue raised by Deputy Catherine Murphy, a single non-executive board at Ervia level will be responsible for the governance of both companies. The increase in the maximum number of members will ensure that the board has adequate water services experience and expertise. With regard to the amendments, the Government recently approved proposals to strengthen the board structures of Ervia and Irish Water. This will involve a number of changes. The revised structures include the appointment of a single non-executive board at Ervia level which will have responsibility for Ervia as well as for Irish Water and the gas network subsidiary. A process to fill the vacancies on the Ervia board commenced last month, with vacancies advertised on the State boards website. The candidates being sought must have expertise in the water utility sector and experience in organisational change, customer facing systems and utility infrastructure financing.

On the issue raised by Deputy Cowen, as I said, the process to appoint the new board members is under way. It is intended that those appointments will commence early in the new year. While not suggesting that Deputy Stanley is raising conspiracy theories in relation to consumer interests, the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, has responsibility and oversight of customers' interests. To be fair, the Government has gone to great lengths to try to address the Deputy's concerns.

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