Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On a related matter, this deals with the share capital. Are there any provisions to ensure the corporate governance systems within this new company will not replicate the laissez-faire approach of Bord Gáis Éireann? I am sure the Minister of State is aware that Bord Gáis Éireann is one of the easiest companies in which to work and is very employee friendly on issues such as absenteeism, bonuses and things like that. I know people who were employed by the company, and the management of ensuring that the company operated efficiently and effectively in accordance with good corporate governance was certainly lacking. My concern is that if that kind of ethos is applied to the new water company, unfortunate householders will be forced to put up with the inefficiencies within the company. The Government is moving it from the local authorities to a private company. It should operate on clear commercial lines of good business practice in the interest of ensuring that the consumer has a cost-effective service. From the contacts I have within the company, I know that Bord Gáis Éireann is not a company that applies that ethos to any extent.