Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator MacSharry's amendment to the Order of Business. I was very disturbed last night to find that the Irish Water debacle is about to come back and haunt us again. Last week, there was an announcement from the European Commission that it had some doubts as to whether EUROSTAT would accept the figures put forward by Government regarding Irish Water. I learned late last night that the Secretary General at the Department of Social Protection has written to the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform setting out concerns relating to resources to administer the only grant in the country people can get without having to do anything to get it. A person does not have to prove anything to get it. The Secretary General's final words were that it is "critical that we advance this project quickly". Clearly, the Secretary General felt that her Department could not administer this grant. A statement was released by the Department this morning saying it might be able to do so. We need an answer to this, therefore, I second Senator MacSharry's amendment to the Order of Business. I regret having to do so.