Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We tried to have the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s guidelines for capital projects included in the legislation. However, we ran into the proverbial brick wall.

Why is an energy regulator regulating water? Is it not a specialised field? Water engineers in the United Kingdom wanted to spend €27.4 billion between 2000 and 2015 on water services which was cut back to €19.1 billion in the end. That is what engineers will do with their pet projects. We must be careful that the engineers here do not double the national debt. That is why the Minister’s project appraisal mechanisms have my support. The UK industry wanted a return of 4.3% on its investment but the regulator put it back to 3.85%.

There is an awful lot more that we need to find out about Irish Water. I welcomed the Minister’s first instalment on freedom of information at the time. This extension of the legislation is very necessary with Parliament asserting itself. It is necessary because Sir Humphrey is not a natural democrat, so we must teach him that. I support the Minister in his endeavours in this regard.