Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Healy Eames has been very proactive on this legislation. She has put a good deal of work into her amendments and they are thoughtful. From my perspective they are rather helpful, in particular, the amendment currently tabled because most of the debate on Second Stage and throughout today was on the question of conservation. Since all the meters are not in place there is no way of saying what we are achieving in the area of conservation at the moment. However, it was supposed to be one of the main selling points of Uisce Éireann from day 1.

I cannot see how this amendment is not seen as being helpful, not only to Members making contributions but to the Minister and the Government as well. At this stage there may not be any idea as to how it would be done. However, this amendment would focus and challenge us over the coming months to come up with some methodology to tie down this issue once and for all.

I am not keen for us to encounter a sudden realisation when this legislation is being implemented that conservation has gone out the window and is no longer part of the agenda. I know the Minister does not want to see that, the Government does not want that and no reasonable person wants to see it either. All the contributions I have heard from all the positions on this legislation put conservation high on the priority list. This amendment would help us to focus on doing that. Even at this late hour, I call on the Minister to consider whether he sees any merit in the amendment.