Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is very legitimate that Members of the Oireachtas are concerned to fully understand and interrogate the finances of Irish Water. This is important in terms of State resources being provided to Irish Water and the accountability to the Minister and the Oireachtas of this important State company.

The transparency of funding and accountability is achieved through a number of mechanisms which I will outline to the House. This includes a statutory obligation to provide audited accounts to the Minister in a timely fashion to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. All expenditure and proposed revenue is reviewed by the Commission for Energy Regulation which consults on these matters. Any expenditure by a Minister, whether from my Department or the Department of Finance, is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. While I understand the motivation for the proposed amendment to bring Irish Water within the ambit of the Comptroller and Auditor General, this is unnecessary and would place Irish Water in a very different sphere to its parent company and most other commercial State companies.

On presentation of its accounts, Irish Water can be invited to appear before the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Therefore, I am satisfied that there is sufficient legislative controls in place to ensure the proper stewardship and oversight of public funding in this regard.