Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. It is particularly welcome that the legislation on this matter has been improved no end since last year. That is not to suggest this Bill is perfect. I accept the objectives of this Bill and what it seeks to achieve. I believe in water metering and conservation. Have we gone about this in the right way? I do not think so.

The Minister has not up to now accepted many amendments proposed in this House. If we pass the Second Stage reading of this legislation this evening will the Minister be willing to consider our amendments to it on Committee Stage. I would like to think he will not turn a blind eye to them or refuse to accept any of them. The legislation as currently drafted has changed considerably since first published. While it has been improved considerably there is still more to be done.

On the issue of PPS numbers, I did not understand the reason for the provision in that regard. There was a huge outcry against it, which the Government noted. I tabled a Bill on the issue but was able to withdraw it when the Government changed its mind, perhaps because of the thousands of people who objected to and did not understand it. That is only one of the changes made. I must be the only person in this House who believes that we should not close the door to the privatisation in the future of Irish Water. I am not suggesting it should be done now or in the near future. I grew up in an Ireland in which if one wanted to travel by aeroplane there was only one Irish owned State airline to choose from in that regard. The same applied in respect of travel by bus or boat.