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

The memo to which the Minister of State referred mentioned a small organisation - perhaps a bit like the National Roads Authority, with a staff of 25 or 30 - with the work continuing to be done by the local authorities. A referendum was referred to, and this was correct because the model chosen by the Government, in which it took responsibility away from local authorities in order to set up a commercial organisation, is part of an agenda on the part of Fine Gael to ultimately allow water companies from outside to State to control the water supply.

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