David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Bill can say what it likes. If the Minister of State is saying it is cast in stone that the service can never be privatised, I do not believe him. Many services have been privatised over the years. Once the concept of charging is introduced for a service, it will inevitably be privatised. The same happened with waste collection charges. When they were introduced, we were told it was about making sure people would pay as they use and reducing waste and not about privatising waste collection services. Only a small number of local authorities now provide such services. The principle of a charge was adopted and all the services were privatised. The same happened with water services in the UK and it will happen here because the Government is following that model.

I do not care what the Bill states. The logic of this process is that in time, because of what is happening, water services will inevitably be privatised. I believe that is wrong. The fundamental issue is whether it is good or bad to establish a single utility. It is not the best or most cost-effective way to manage the service, staff and the assets, unless the Government intends to privatise it. A new national water governance framework, such as that proposed by my party, should be developed in partnership with government and local authorities to ensure the delivery of water and the commitment of all involved to ensure water conservation and to comply with EU regulations. That would be the best model. I understand where the Government is coming from on this even though I do not agree with it. I will oppose the section.