Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
523 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the relationship between Bord Gáis and Irish Water after the former is privatised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26480/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government decided on 17 April 2012, that Irish Water should be established as independent state owned company within the Bord Gáis Group. Irish Water will be a public utility, wholly owned by the State. The water service will remain in public ownership as is the case in most countries in Europe and further afield.
BGE has key capabilities that can be brought to bear in the establishment of Irish Water, including experience in operating as a utility in a regulated environment and a track record in raising finance, and has specific skills from its own experience of transformation, customer relations, network management, metering and utility operation that can be quickly deployed to assist in the successful establishment and operation of Irish Water. The skills within the Bord Gáis Group will be paired with the experience and commitment to service in local authorities and the specific water and wastewater capabilities and expertise that exist in local government to build the new organisation.
In the context of the Government's commitment under the Programme for Government and the EU/IMF Agreement in relation to State assets, the Government has decided to sell Bord Gáis Energy, which is a separate business unit of the Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) group dealing with electricity and gas supply as well as power generation. The Government has also reiterated its commitment to retaining BGE's gas networks and interconnectors in State ownership. I am confident that Bord Gáis will continue to contribute to achieving key Government and national objectives in its ongoing management of the strategic gas infrastructure as well as the sale of the Bord Gáis Energy business and the establishment of the new Irish water utility.
