Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
739. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the promised constitutional referendum to keep Irish Water in public ownership will be held in November along with the gender equality referendum and if not, why not. [16760/23]
View answer793. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to ‘refer the issue of the environment, including water, and its place in the Constitution to a relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee for consideration.’ [17264/23]
View answer794. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on running a referendum on the public ownership of water concurrently with the announced referendum on Article 41.2 of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17265/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 793 and 794 together.
Public ownership is a core principle governing the development of water services and the Government has given its full commitment to holding a referendum on water ownership. It is important to note that the establishment of Uisce Éireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022.
I have previously committed to bringing forward a referendum proposal on public ownership of water for consideration by Government in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing, once the Commission has reported to me on that matter. In this way, it is intended that definitive proposals, including timelines, for referenda on water and housing will be considered by Government in due course.
