Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Section 50 enables a water services authority to enter into an agreement with any person to provide water service infrastructure, with a view to that person subsequently transferring ownership to the authority. Therefore, the agreement to which Senator Bannon referred does not relate directly to the discharge of its functions per se by a water services authority. On the other hand, the specific purpose of the agreement has already been set out in detail in sections 50(2) and 50(3). In the circumstances, I believe that the amendment is unnecessary. It could conflict with the provisions of the subsections I mentioned.