Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is apt that Deputy Paul Murphy is in the Chamber because yesterday he made some points about the possibility of Irish Water being privatised. I will clarify the position for his benefit and that of the House.

The Government has consistently stated the supply of water and wastewater will remain in public ownership. This principle was enshrined in the Water Services Act, 2007 and reaffirmed in the Water Services (No. 2) Act, 2013. The 2013 Act prohibits the shareholders of Irish Water, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Finance and the board of Irish Water, from disposing of their shares. The Government believes the public ownership of water services is the will of the people and introduced further legislation in the Water Services Act 2014 to ensure that if any future Government sought to change this position, it would be required to put the matter before the electorate in a plebiscite. That is provided for in the Bill. We have been accused of creating smokescreens, but using the red herring of privatisation is a smokescreen.

This point does not refer specifically to the amendment, but that is where the focus should be. As I stated on numerous occasions yesterday during the debate on these amendments which took up almost four hours, I am surprised Deputies say they are not being given enough time to discuss the Bill. They spent four hours in a repetitive and disruptive session yesterday, but if they choose to do so, there will be ample opportunities to discuss all of the amendments tabled.

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