David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Not at all. It is the season of goodwill, jolly ho-ho, rum, raisins, holly berries, mistletoe and the rest of that jazz.

A previous Minister - I cannot remember which one - took up very strongly my point that it is idiotic that Members of the Seanad and Dáil cannot move a resolution that creates a charge on the Exchequer. I urge the Government to examine this issue. Given its taste for holding referendums, it should hold a referendum on the matter.

In any case, I congratulate Senator Barrett on negotiating the line between a referendum and a plebiscite. What he has produced is a plebiscite which has all the characteristics of a referendum. Well done to him.

The amendment will also be a test for the Senators who I would describe as the "Enda-pendents", although I note that two of the Independent Senators who are taking an interest in proceedings voted with their consciences despite having been nominated by the Taoiseach. I pay tribute to them for exercising their consciences and wish their approach extended to their fellows.

The most important elements of the proposed new section are subsections 8 to 11, inclusive. Subsection 12, the final subsection, is simply a definition. Subsection (8) reads as follows: "The Minister or the Minister for Finance have an obligation to ensure the orderly alienation of Irish Water and to provide an audit statement on the financial and operational state of Irish Water to each House of the Oireachtas." The lack of prudent financial oversight is one of the reasons for the current mess. This provision would at least give us a glimpse at the figures and a definitive statement, in as far as that is possible. This welcome proposal should be implemented in any case and notwithstanding any alienation of Irish Water. The company should be required to make an annual statement on its financial state.

Subsection (9) proposes that the powers of Irish Water be returned to the local authorities. I hope this will also mean shedding the additional Irish Water staff. There is no point in shovelling a load of people down to rural Ireland and having them on the payroll when they are doing sweet damn all.

Subsection (10) provides that no punitive actions, such as the reduction or cessation of water services, are to be taken on households. The Minister has been firm and convincing on this issue. As I stated yesterday, he was handed a poisoned chalice and I cannot imagine why he accepted it because he is heading straight for the graveyard, although he does so with insouciance and a smile on his face.