Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I worked in water services as a caretaker for Donegal County Council in the real world before I came in here. I know exactly what the Rural Independents were saying when they spoke about the work and commitment of water workers to ensure that water supplies continue across rural Ireland.

One would be forgiven for reading the Minister of State's speech and thinking there were no water services before Irish Water came about. That was not the case. There were large water services that were kept going by people in local communities who ensured water services were delivered. That is what will be lost through Irish Water. It is in the process of being lost because jobs will transfer to Irish Water. We do not know what will happen or whether there will be ongoing commitments to local staff.

They will be lost and it will be to the detriment of water services throughout this country if that situation is allowed to happen. However, that is the way it will work and it will happen from now on.

This debate was supposed to be around the need for a referendum around water services. I think it has been mentioned in one sentence of the Minister of State's speech, which is a seven- or eight-page document. A referendum will be vitally important because it will ensure our water services stay in public ownership because, ultimately, what will happen is water services will move out of public ownership. The onus is on the Department to make sure that happens.

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