Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the proposal of the Minister to allow the Bill to pass and move to the Seanad for its approval. I acknowledge the contribution of the Minister and his staff in preparing the Bill. As he stated, it is reflective of an agreement reached after the election with a view to facilitating a Government to find a pathway in the process, as he rightly acknowledged, for experts in various fields in the commission to analyse, scrutinise, debate and, ultimately, make recommendations to an Oireachtas committee which, in turn, will assimilate and digest them and, ultimately, put the question on the various recommendations to the Dáil. A very informed decision will have been made during the course of our discussions and deliberations to arrive at this consensus, in an effort to have this dealt with effectively and appropriately in the full knowledge of all the failings of the past, without saying any more about it but also acknowledging the political reality which exists, and the intention of us all to ensure we can provide a water service that meets the demands of all society, residential and commercial, but which must be paid for. We acknowledge the House must confirm its intention to arrive at a consensus to pay for the service and ensure the service is made fit for purpose and is one of which we can all be proud.

I acknowledge the Minister and his party came from one perspective and I and mine came from another. There had to be compromise and a negotiation. In any negotiation one cannot walk out with the same position as that with which one walked in if one expects to find a resolution. This was the spirit in which we entered the negotiations and the spirit in which we continue to engage to arrive at a consensus with which the House can be happy. I, and those who gave me the privilege to be here, can be sure the decision ultimately taken will be one which is much more informed than the process we left behind the previous Dáil.

I commend all those who took part in the various Stages of the passing of this small piece of legislation over recent weeks. I thank the committee for the manner in which it will have been - I will not say fast tracked - dealt with before we break for the recess. I commend the Bill, as did the Minister.

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