Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the contribution the Minister has made. The Bill and the Government’s plan for Irish Water are flawed. The Minister has tried to correct some of the mistakes of his predecessor but this is still a bad plan and bad legislation. Irish Water is a bad company with which the Government should not proceed. The only way to do that is to reject it through the Seanad. The people voted - my party campaigned for it too - to retain the Seanad to ensure proper checks and balances on legislation, so that brakes can be put on any Government. Unfortunately, this Government, with a majority of over 50 seats in the Lower House, has proceeded with many different bad Bills because of that majority, not listening to the Opposition. It should have listened to the Opposition a year ago on the Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013. If it had, it would not be in this mess now.