Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I tire of the manner in which things are done in this country. A constitutional referendum was proposed to ensure protection of the right of the people of Ireland to their water. Article 10.3 of the Constitution states: "Provision may be made by law for the management of the property which belongs to the State by virtue of this Article and for the control of the alienation, whether temporary or permanent, of that property." I sought amendment of Article 40 of the Constitution to protect water. Many Senators have said they would like to ensure protection of our water by way of referendum.

The Minister said yesterday that there was a difficulty in providing for protection of water under the Constitution because of property rights. In this regard, he adverted to private wells and so on. No Government has been slow in moving to nationalise or take possession of any asset it felt it needed at a time of crisis. If in the morning a particular area was without water the Government would not be slow in coming forward to seize all the wells in that area to provide water. Thus, I do not accept the Minister's argument.

Is the Minister aware that a company was established in October of this year in the UK named "Irish Water-Uisce Éireann"? I wonder if it is in any way related. Everything I have read or heard about water services provision in terms of the several attempts already made to get legislation in this regard through the Houses has been hamfisted and a total mess. I admire the Minister in that he has at least tried. However, when tens of thousands of people in this country came out to protest he had the unique opportunity to at least appease a substantial number of them by providing for protection of Irish water by way of referendum.

Perhaps the Minister will when responding show himself to be a brave Minister and indicate that he will bring forth a Bill to the Dáil and then to the Seanad to provide for a referendum not only on water but on all our natural resources and ownership of them?