Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to put on the record that the need for a consumer voice is very necessary. My understanding is that the National Consumer Agency will have exactly the same power to do what it does for every other sector and for the water sector. However, Irish Water will not have to submit its plan to the National Consumer Agency or the Competition Authority but the consumer will have a right to appeal to the authority in the event of a complaint and Irish Water will then have to examine that complaint.

Therefore, the consumer is protected by the National Consumer Agency against Irish Water as he or she is protected against any other utility company. I hope my understanding is correct. Irish Water does not have to submit the plan to the National Consumer Agency because this power is not provided for in the legislation.

With regard to the Competition Authority, Irish Water has no competition at present. There is only one Irish Water and I do not foresee the group schemes competing with it. We discussed privatisation, which will not happen. If an issue arose in this regard, there would be a dire need for a competition authority. As the Minister said, however, this has nothing to do with privatisation. The consumer will receive the same protection from abuses by Irish Water as from those of any comparable organisation.