Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thought we had a constructive debate on section 7. It would be a pity if our debate descends into name-calling and heckling and so on for section 8. We need to be careful about our reading of section 8. The Senators who have tabled amendment No. 25 seem to ignore the fact that section 8(1) refers to a dispute resolution service for customers of Irish Water. Section 8(4) must be read in light of that subsection and that is what this provision is about.

It is about this narrowly focused dispute resolution mechanism, which has to be available for customers, but it is quite separate from people who may have other complaints about Irish Water and its functions, who clearly should go to the forum. That is as I read the provisions, but the Minister will have something to say on it. It makes no sense to amend subsection (4) when one can see in section 8(1) that this entire provision is about a narrowly focused dispute resolution service for people quacustomers, as customers, of Irish Water, and in that capacity only.