Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know but I am making the point about what I also brought to the Cabinet this morning when I raised the issue in the Deputy's amendment. We discussed this on Committee Stage and I was quite clear on what I would like to do. I am the Minister responsible and I am telling the Deputy it is my intention to do that. The advice I received and on which I am going to act is that this is not the appropriate legislation in which to deem what the Comptroller and Auditor would or would not audit. We must also be mindful of the manner in which Irish Water has been established. It has a separate auditing process now because it comes under companies legislation. I want to move it to the position we all want in this House with regard to the Comptroller and Auditor General. I cannot just allow the amendment to fall into the Bill as I have been told it is not the correct way in which to do this. I must consult further with the Attorney General as a priority to see how quickly we can get to the right mechanism whereby we can have a role for the Comptroller and Auditor General when it comes to Irish Water. That is as I expressed on Committee Stage, at Cabinet this morning and I have just expressed to the Deputy again here in the Dáil this evening.

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