I move the amendment on the Order Paper:—
In page 4, lines 22 to 24, Section 3 (2) to delete the brackets and words "(otherwise than by reducing the height of such low water level below the height thereof stated in the said paragraph 6)", and in lines 27 and 28, to delete the brackets and words "(subject to the restriction hereinbefore mentioned)".
Both the Electricity Supply Board and the Dublin Corporation have requested that this amendment should be made. Sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Bill, as introduced, provides for the giving of power to the Minister for Industry and Commerce to vary, if both the corporation and the Electricity Supply Board agree, the low water level in the proposed reservoir, the low water level being set out in Section 6 of the scheduled agreement.
That sub-section, however, provides that the Minister may not make an Order fixing levels below those stated in the agreement. In other words, the water level can be varied only above the minimum stated in the agreement. Both the Electricity Supply Board and the corporation think it is desirable that the Minister should have power, if they both agree, to fix low levels, lower than those stated, in the scheduled agreement. The idea, I think, is to fix a scale of monthly levels, some of which may be below the minimum levels stated in the agreement. The lower levels, it appears, would be fixed in seasons in which rain might reasonably be expected to occur so that there would be little danger of any deficiency in the supply of water. In the months when the rainfall is relatively lower, the levels in the reservoir would, on the other hand, be correspondingly higher so as to conserve the water supply. The amendment is desired to effect the purpose I have stated. There is no reason why the amendment should not be effected if both, parties concerned in the agreement desire it and particularly as the section provides that any variation in the levels requires the consent of both parties.