Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join in the new year wishes. Guím athbhliain faoi shíochán don Seanadóir. I had a brief history lesson in the context of Irish Water and the figure of €50 million spent on consultancy fees, which seems to be bandied around as if it is of no consequence. A recent newspaper report indicated, and there has been much talk about the fact, that this is the largest single semi-State organisation that has been created since the ESB. A recent newspaper piece stated that in 1927, the ESB was formed in one room with a chair, a desk, a chairman and a secretary. There was no talk about €50 million or even €50,000 at the time and yet look at how the ESB has grown. I wonder if people are aware of the outrage out there in the country about the €50 million.

How has it been broken down? Has any benchmark been used? Yesterday the figures were given on the companies that received amounts of money but was there any benchmark to show why they received those amounts? Even €1 million in consultancy fees is an enormous amount of money. We have endured cuts through debate in this House, and listened to Ministers over the last six months cutting €10 million here, €12 million there and €15 million there, that directly affect people's lives and livelihoods. However, €50 million is being thrown around like snuff at a wake. It is not good enough. It is long past time that some statement was made on how the benchmark is used. In the legal profession a benchmark can be put on fees put forward and in some cases they are reduced.

What benchmark is used in terms of the amount of money given out to consultants? The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform should come to the House and explain what criteria are to be used, if none are in place, to ensure public money put out like this is tendered for properly and benchmarked properly.

I second Senator O'Donovan's amendment.