Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 February 2014
172. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the safeguards that are in place to provide security to those who are concerned that Irish Water could be sold out of public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10282/14]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. Section 5 of the Act also sets out the share structure of Irish Water, providing for one share to be allocated to Bord Gáis Éireann and for the remaining shares to be issued equally between the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Finance. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, which came into effect on 1 January 2014, provides for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the water services authorities to Irish Water. Section 46 of this Act provides for amendments to section 5 of the Water Services Act 2013. The amended provision precludes the three above-mentioned shareholders of Irish Water from alienating the shares issued to them. This amendment essentially places a statutory prohibition on the privatisation of Irish Water.
