David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 4, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:
“(b) a Resolution of each City and County Council is passed approving the alienation,”.

This amendment adds a subsection to the so-called triple lock relating to the plebiscite. We propose that a resolution of each city and county council is passed approving the alienation. For many years the local authorities had control over water services and the provision of water. It is accepted that some local authorities did a very good job while others did not do as good a job. I do not have a big problem with the creation of a single water utility, as such; I just have a problem with the way Irish Water was set up and the whole fiasco that went with it. Whether multiple local authorities or a single water utility provide the service, we want an infrastructure and the ability of whatever organisation to provide people with good quality drinking water, and in my view, this should be provided without charges.
It used to be under the control of local government for many years. While the Minister has ruled out any possibility of a constitutional referendum, he is sticking to the provisions in section 2 by which a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas would be required and followed by a plebiscite of the people. We are seeking a provision in the Bill that there would need to be a resolution of each city and county council. I do not think this is unreasonable. The Minister stated earlier today when he was speaking on this issue that, "over my dead body would Irish Water be privatised or water services be privatised or the shares be alienated". If that is the logic of what he says, then surely he would not object to a local authority having its say. Some local authorities are much larger due to amalgamation and they have, on average, 30 elected councillors who, in my view, should have their say. If we want to make these provisions as watertight as possible - which the Minister says he does - then I do not see why allowing the city and county councils have their say would prove to be a difficulty. Unfortunately it is a difficulty because I have listened to the Minister's Committee Stage discussions with Sinn Féin in the other House. I was not at all persuaded by his arguments. That is why we agreed we would re-table this amendment which Senator Ó Clochartaigh will second. This is an important issue. In our view local government has been devalued and has lost significant powers over many years. This amendment would give local councils their rightful place and if there ever were to be a Government minded to privatise our water services a resolution would be required to be passed in each local authority in the State.
To follow the logic of what the Minister said earlier, that he cannot envisage any circumstances where any Government at any time in the future would ever consider privatising water services, then accepting this amendment should not matter to him as it provides another safeguard which fits with that logic. I appeal to the Minister to listen to those points and to strengthen section 2 in as much as possible. Any future Government can dispense with it in any case but if that is the road the Minister is going down and he has ruled out a constitutional referendum, we think that this amendment would add value to the section. I await the Minister's response.