Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Howlin for raising this matter. It is worth restating one point. While I fully acknowledge the public disquiet, section 2(1) of the Water Services Act 2014 provides that there will be no change in the status of Irish Water without a majority of votes cast in a plebiscite in favour of the proposal. We already have legal provision in place, as Deputy Howlin knows.

The Deputy's party has brought forward Private Members' legislation. As he is aware, we have not opposed it and we are open to discuss it. However, this has to be done in the usual way, whereby we evaluate the potential impact of any such legislation and ensure that the decisions we take are robust for the future. Certainly, I am of the view that, as a State, we need to protect our core networks and ensure they are available and managed in the interest of the State. We have seen the mistakes made in other jurisdictions, as well as our own, whereby such decisions were not taken with due caution. A Bill put forward in this area on the back of the recommendations will have to be seriously considered by the committee in the first instance. Then, on foot of the committee report, which, I understand, will come within three months, we will be able to make decisions about where we go from there in terms of a potential referendum.

We ought not to seek to pre-empt the work of the committee that we have appointed. It has valuable work to do. We must acknowledge that those responsible have found the legislative assurance we provided to be insufficient. That is what they found in public opinion and the Oireachtas has to take account of that. I am sure it will do so in the committee.

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