Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I thank the Minister of State for coming and setting out all aspects of the Bill. We discussed this Bill in great detail in the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I see Senators Cummins and Fitzpatrick here and we have had a lot of engagement on the Bill.

I confirm my full support for the Bill. It makes sense. As the Minister of State said at the outset, it is a technical Bill. Much of it follows through in terms of the governance issues around water and, as we now will call it, "Uisce Éireann". It is a nice, appropriate name for it.

There are two issues I want to flag to the Minister of State that he touch on briefly. These are perhaps take-home messages for the Department. I am concerned that there has not been a final resolution to issues around the workforce in the 31 local authorities. I am aware it is ongoing. It is being dealt with through the unions and through arbitration and various other means. I would like that to be resolved. There is an issue there.

Historically, these would have been employees of the 31 local authorities. I am supportive and I understand, but I am also conscious that as part of any reform we have to move forward. I would just like it to be known. I do not doubt that the Minister of State is committed like everybody else in this Chamber but it is important that we include them and try and resolve those issues because it is about information transfer. The workers have considerable knowledge of the water systems and the flaws and the faults and all the deviations in terms of water. I would be keen that that progresses as much as possible. That is the really important issue that I want to bring to the debate.

I wish the legislation well and it has my full support.