Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will stick to the amendment. I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for tabling the amendment. I sit on the Committee of Public Accounts, as she does, and I realise the invaluable work the Comptroller and Auditor General and his small team do. If the Government is seriously interested in restoring any faith in it, its handling of the water crisis and Irish Water, this is the most basic step it could take in restoring confidence.

I can see no reason the Government would refuse to allow Irish Water to come under the scrutiny of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. I look forward to the Minister's reply and to hearing whether he agrees with this. I would be delighted if he does. If he does not, I am anxious to hear what reason he might give for not having public scrutiny of a body, in particular when, as the Taoiseach has repeatedly confirmed, there is no intention of privatising our water service. It is a basic human right. I once again thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for tabling the amendment.

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