Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I would have thought that if a national, rather than a commercial body, was established and was named Irish Water that within that there would be a role for oversight. I do not understand why this has to be separate and why it cannot be contained in the Bill. The provision is immediate. We would not have to wait any length of time.

In a reply from the Minister in September, I was told: "State funding to Irish Water in respect of domestic water services, as determined through the regulatory process being channelled in future through my Department's Vote... [means that] the future funding for Irish Water in respect of domestic water services will therefore be from general taxation." There is no doubt that the money is coming from general taxation.

The idea that this is something that has to be pushed off into the future is of significant concern because a number of issues have already arisen at meetings of the Committee of Public Accounts, which we know we cannot deal with because the Comptroller and Auditor General does not have legal responsibility for this area.

I honestly do not understand why it cannot be embedded in this legislation. It would be entirely appropriate, given it relates to the same matter, the oversight of Irish Water by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Too often we hear that we must bring different pieces of legislation forward, but that takes ages. In six months or a year, we could find ourselves in a position where if we had provided this oversight, we would not have ended up there. This is about ensuring there is value for money and proper oversight in the most expeditious way. For that reason I will most certainly press this amendment.

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