Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Paul Murphy should acknowledge that significant progress has been made in recent years in cementing the public ownership dimension of Irish Water in terms of the State structure that has been introduced. There is no question about that.

I do not believe there is any reason for workers to be concerned. The fundamental issue around the referendum on water is control of a natural resource, besides the mechanisms by which it is managed. Be it an agency or local authorities, that is a matter for ongoing debate. It is State-owned and the State is the shareholder. It is a precious resource on which we must continue to work. The Minister has committed to a referendum on it. It is a referendum that will deal with the broader issue of ownership of water.

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