Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 28, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:

“Amendment of Schedule 3 to the Principal Act

38.Schedule 3 to the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following before paragraph 1:“A1. All buildings and facilities used in connection with water and wastewater owned by Irish Water.”.”.

This amendment would require all buildings and facilities using connections with water and wastewater services owned by Irish Water to be included in the Act in order that Irish Water would pay commercial rates and be subject to valuation, like any other semi-State body. I proposed a similar amendment on Committee Stage and I spoke about public versus private ownership, group schemes and impacts. In this amendment, I have been more specific and have homed in on Irish Water. The Water Services Act 2014 amended the Valuation Act 2001 to allow approximately €59 million to be paid in lieu of commercial rates by the Department. This is State aid by the taxpayer through the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. If Irish Water is a legitimate, stand-alone, commercial semi-State body, like Bus Éireann, CIE, the ESB or Bord Gáis, it should pay rates like every other body and should not have them paid by the taxpayer through the back door. The legislation provides State aid, and it should not happen. I am against Irish Water to start with, and it is a further insult to the people to ask them to pay the rates bill of Irish Water, a body with which people are not happy. The principle I am establishing here is very clear. I am opposed to special treatment for Irish Water.

See this speech in context