Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issues being touched on are very important because it is important that the people know what is going on. An asset will be transferred by ministerial order and it will not be done quietly and silently. An order will be signed which anybody will be able to find and look at. What will be transferred will be visible and there will be nothing hidden about it. On the question of where the money will be spent - the point the Senator makes about accountability - the planning regulations provide that development contributions may be transferred, but they must be used in the local authority area in which they were collected. I presume local authority members will be more than anxious to make sure there is transparency. At the heart of the issue is the contact between Irish Water, local authority members, councils and the public in a transparent process. There is nothing to worry about in this regard because the transfer of assets requires a ministerial order and everybody will be able to see and examine what is in it.