Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Bill separates Irish Water from its parent company, Ervia, and changes the name of the company to Uisce Éireann. It also includes new provisions to require Uisce Éireann to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts, which is welcome. The general scheme of the Bill was published in 2019 and underwent pre-legislative scrutiny. The committee recommended that the chair be appointed through the Public Appointments Service and that the Minister publish a written statement on the negotiations relating to the single utility, along with an update on holding a referendum to enshrine the right to water in the Constitution. It is disappointing that these issues have not been adequately addressed. Previous speakers have mentioned all that.

We in Sinn Féin are not opposed to the separation of Irish Water from Ervia, but we support the recommendations of the Oireachtas housing committee's pre-legislative scrutiny report. The key issues for us are that the water utility remains in public ownership and that a referendum be held urgently to enshrine this in the Constitution. The Government must publish wording for a referendum and must set a date. At the moment we have no referendum Bill and no date for the holding of a referendum. The Minister has made a vague commitment to bring a proposal to the Government but we have no detail. This is extremely important and must be dealt with. We are, and will continue to be, opposed to domestic metered water charges and domestic meters.

The final legal status of the utility is unclear. Our preference would be for it to be a non-commercial semi-State company. We are concerned with the loss of yet another service to local authorities. We should be strengthening our local government, not weakening it.

Clarity must be provided on what footprint water services will have in councils in the future. Adequate assurances must be provided for local authority staff who choose to transfer to the new utility. We in Sinn Féin believe water should be provided on the basis of need, free at the point of access and funded through general taxation and commercial charges. It is clear from recent county development plan discussions in Kildare that urgent investment is needed to deliver the water and wastewater services that are necessary to ensure we have balanced development.

There are almost 7,000 people on the housing waiting list in Kildare and many thousands more who are not on that list are living in substandard or inadequate housing situations. We are doing them a disservice if we do not address this urgently.

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