Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the amendment. I am pleased Senator Darragh O'Brien has identified this anomaly. It is vital that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General oversees Irish Water of all companies, particularly as it has been born in controversial circumstances. It is the most controversial company ever established in the State. The IDA and Enterprise Ireland are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

People do not have any faith in Irish Water, which will give bonuses to staff for performing their duties, even though some of whom have not even started work. What other company would grant bonuses to employees in advance of commencing work or for performing their duties in a proper manner? Surely the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General should oversee the company given the exemplary work it does and the outstanding results it achieves. It is a well equipped office which presents excellent reports to the Committee of Public Accounts under the chairmanship of Deputy John McGuinness. Irish Water should come under the scrutiny of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

If the Minister of State is not prepared to accept the amendment, he will find it necessary to amend the legislation sooner than he believes. The exclusion of Irish Water from the remit of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is an insult to taxpayers who will fund the company. People will smell a rat because this is being done on purpose. The Government wants to cover up the ineffective work being done by Irish Water.