Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I compliment Deputy McGrath on bringing it forward. While we would not agree with everything contained in it, we support the spirit and intention of the Bill.

The Minister's lengthy script, which was distributed, refers to the three pillars of reform and the success in setting up the national utility. I would not consider the setting up of Irish Water a success. In terms of a sustainable funding model, I ask the Minister to examine its operational funding for this year and the sources, capital investment and voodoo economics being performed in regard to the write-off of rates, the so-called water conservation grant, for which one does not have to save a drop of water, and the transfer of €500 million, with the stroke of a pen in December, back onto the State's balance sheet in a water debt, which is the exact opposite of the Government's stated intention in respect of Irish Water. All of those costs were to be removed from the balance sheet but they are accumulating. Those are not my sums; they are the Minister's.

Irish Water must be abolished and replaced with a public company that is fit for purpose. I have stated that many times. Some commentators have been slow to pick up on that but they can read it in the Official Report, particularly for 4 December when I outlined our position regarding the need to dismantle Irish Water. We will support the passing of the Bill at this Stage to allow it go to committee where we believe it should be amended.

Unfortunately, certain groups are claiming that Sinn Féin holds a different position from what I have outlined, despite the fact that I am on record on many occasions in the House calling for Irish Water to be replaced. In April, our party also published a water services repeal Bill that would have legislated to abolish both domestic water charges and Irish Water but it was not allowed come before the House because there was a funding implication. We provided for that in our budget submission last year.

To return to the substance of the Bill, the main focus this week has been on the issue of not being able to obtain information from Irish Water under the Freedom of Information Act. Deputy McGrath's Bill calls for the company to be made fully subject to freedom of information, FOI, legislation. I am aware the Bill was drafted prior to that provision being inserted but it does not fully comply with that. All of us have had difficulty getting information from Irish Water. I tabled a priority question to the Minister in another attempt to get further information on the number of bills sent out and the number that have been paid, and that was ruled out of order. There is a big wall between us and information. I recall addressing the former Minister, Phil Hogan, on that issue several times because he continued to say Irish Water would be a stand-alone semi-State company. I know what that means, as does the Minister and everybody in this House. It means it does not have to disclose certain information. I predicted that would happen, and it has happened.

It is clear there is a reluctance on the part of the Government to have Irish Water provide such information. Members of this House should know the number of bills that have been sent out and the number that have been paid. That would strongly indicate that the number of people who have not paid is far higher than the Government or Irish Water would like people to believe.

With regard to Deputy McGrath's proposal, the Freedom of Information Act does apply now to Irish Water. However, there are problems and I request that the Minister ensure that the company is complying fully with its statutory obligation to supply information under FOI requests that have been submitted to it.

Deputy McGrath wants a referendum to be held before Irish Water could be sold off but Sinn Féin is stating that inserting a clause in the Constitution allowing the public to do that so as to protect Irish Water from being sold off is the best way to proceed. The Government has put that in legislation. The Minister said, and I accept it, that at this point he would not like to see Irish Water being sold off. Some might question that because of what the Government is doing with Aer Lingus. We will accept that is the case but in terms of future governments, who will be here in ten years time, with all the new parties? We could have brand nua, a right wing coalition of God knows what concoction.

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