Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like any national utility, Irish Water will have in place a complaints process through which customers can engage with it. As the Deputy will be aware from previous discussion on this issue customers whose complaints are not adequately dealt with will have access to dispute resolution mechanisms with the Commission for Energy Regulation.

The Government has gone a step further in establishing the public water forum to address customer interests. This forum will comprise members of the public and consumers who will represent customers' interests. All of those issues are being adequately addressed. Essentially, the board must have the necessary expertise to run a national utility competently and in accordance with good corporate governance.

On Deputy McNamara's concerns regarding board members having the sole right to privatise if they so wish, which obviously is not the case, I want to make it clear that Ervia does not own the economic shares in Irish Water. The Ministers for Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government hold those shares on behalf of the taxpayer. The proposed plebiscite, provision for which will be strengthened on Report Stage, will protect the interests of the public and the taxpayer in this regard. I can assure Deputy McNamara that his concerns are unfounded.

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