Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have debated amendments to section 7 at some length, but the debate has been quite constructive. As I said earlier, section 7 is generally welcome. The concept of the public water forum is very much welcome in that it is vital that we see some body or forum that will represent the interests of the customers of Irish Water. I listened to Senator Cullinane speaking on the section just now, and it is important to note that it is facilitative. That is how I would describe it. It is facilitative of this forum and it provides for a broad role for the forum.

We have gone through the functions that are set out in subsection 5 already. The Minister has agreed and I welcome his commitment to reviewing some of the aspects of our debate on the amendments and to reflect those in his work with the joint Oireachtas committee on the regulations. Subsection 5(f) provides that the forum may carry out such other activities in respect of such other matters as the Minister by order specifies. It is a facilitative rather than an unduly prescriptive section. It provides for very important input from members of the public and we have heard already the role of the Commission for Energy Regulation. I would welcome some more detail from the Minister on some aspects of it, which Senator Cullinane has already requested, but we have debated the different amendments and different aspects of the forum at some length now. I very much welcome the fact that there seems to be a general welcome across the floor of the House for this.