Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I formally second the motion tabled this evening on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, the main points of which Senator MacSharry has outlined. This could be our last Private Members' motion before a general election and this issue has not gone away at all. Senator MacSharry has outlined very clearly the issue of water waste. In fairness to the Minister of State this was a Fine Gael brainchild from 2009. The reality of it was to set up a separate water utility with a view to future privatisation. Members of this House passed a motion earlier in 2015 that there would be a referendum on the ownership of Irish Water and that water would stay in the ownership of the people in perpetuity. That was opposed by Fine Gael and Labour Members. It was passed by the Seanad but it stopped there. Very recently the Minister of State's own colleague, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, said in an interview that it would be a good idea. Can the Minister of State indicate what has changed? I believe it is the proximity to a general election that has changed. There is no doubt that massive investment is required in water infrastructure. The figures outlined by Senator MacSharry show that between 2000 and 2010 there was approximately €550 million to €600 million invested in water infrastructure.

I acknowledge that the first couple of years of the Government taking charge - like the last couple of years of the last Government - were extremely difficult. However, water infrastructure investment has dropped by up to €200 million per year. We are investing €200 million less in 2015 than was invested in 2010 at the height of the crisis. Why is this happening? It is because the Government has spent more than €0.75 billion establishing a water utility that no one wants and, worse, which was not actually required. An NRA type model for water could have been established that would co-ordinate the water infrastructure across local authorities which would leave the experience and knowledge within the local authorities. The current set-up is not working and the public are saying that by withholding their payments to water infrastructure. Why invest all that money in meters that are not being used? Most people, and I include myself, agree with water conservation and agree with a form of charging in the future when the infrastructure is in place and up to speed. Why should someone who is going to conserve water pay the exact same as a person who is not conserving? It makes no sense. The €100 conservation grant was seen for what it was - a total joke. It was not a conservation grant.

We saw the failure of the EUROSTAT test, which Minister Noonan and others had claimed as a fait accompli when EUROSTAT actually said the figures would not wash. That should have been the final message to the Government that Irish Water is dead and buried. Irish Water is now on the balance sheet of the State and cannot borrow independently of the State. In the intervening period €200 million less investment has been made in water infrastructure than was made during the worst year of the crisis in 2010. That is an absolute fact. If this is not working will the Minister of State clarify why we should keep throwing good money after bad at this problem? Go back to the drawing board, scrap Irish Water, suspend water charges and vest control back with the local authorities with an overseeing model equivalent to the NRA. That is what should be done and there is no doubt it would work much better. Water infrastructure is incredibly important, we know and understand that. However, because of the pride of the Government we are left with a utility that no one wants and which last year cost the Exchequer over €20 million. That has been the net cost to the Exchequer of this crazy plan.

Senator MacSharry has outlined clearly why we believe Irish Water should be scrapped and why charges should be suspended. The general election itself will give all parties - and those of no party - the opportunity to put forward their alternative to a company that is not working. Anyone who deals with local authorities knows that the process has become elongated, more complex and the works are not happening on the ground. It is as simple as that. Specific instances have been raised in the north west by Senator MacSharry where works were supposed to be in place but are not. It is true that Irish Water is scaling back on its operations. That is not what was promised. I ask the Minister of State why the Government would not put it to the people in a referendum - as agreed by Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin - that water would stay in the ownership of the people. That at least would remove doubt from people's minds that this utility would not be privatised in the future as has happened in the UK and in many other European countries. I am interested in the Minister of State's response and I strongly support the motion, which we intend to press. Senator MacSharry has outlined it clearly. It must be looked at with a cold eye. A new Government is coming in and it will change things. Irish Water will not be in its current guise, post-election. I am of the firm belief that water charges will be suspended by the next Government and that we will return to the drawing board on this issue. The situation cannot continue because the State is losing millions of euro each year and, since this Government took over, an average of €200 million per year less is being invested in required infrastructure. These are substantial sums. I second the motion.