5 Samh 2012, 12:35
The establishment and future governance of ‘Uisce Éireann’ will be discussed by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht at its meeting tomorrow, Tuesday 6th November, 2012.
John Mullins, Chief Executive, Bord Gáis Éireann, will brief the Committee on the status of the new Irish water utility Uisce Éireann. Bord Gáis has been given the role in establishing and running the new State company.
Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael McCarthy, TD said: “As a Committee we are aware that there are challenges in terms of planning for water supply, providing adequate infrastructure and meeting the costs of delivering and maintaining a water system. Our recent report on water provision aims to address these challenges and we are looking forward to meeting with Mr Mullins to consider our observations and recommendations on the issue of the supply, storage, provision, disposal and cost of water.
It will also be a chance for members of the Committee to get an update on progress on the establishment of the new utility and on the timeframe for a fully functional water company to be up and running. It is an opportunity to get the latest information on developments in relation to recruiting senior management and staff and the rolling out of water metres and setting up an IT infrastructure to manage a nationwide billing system. We will be particularly interested in teasing out the issue of metering, in particular the type of metering and where the metres will actually be located.
The governance of Uisce Éireann is also of particular interest. In our report, we recommended that the new Irish Water utility must be open and transparent to consumers, be covered by Freedom of Information legislation and be required to appear and report to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. The current Commission for Energy Regulation should be strengthened to take on the regulation of the new Irish water utility.
We also recommended that there should be a strong customer voice, whereby the new Irish water utility and its regulators will be obliged to consult, co-operate with and take account of the views of a statutory consumer-focused body, on water issues and that the composition of its Board should make provision for a strong consumer representation.”
This meeting will start in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 2.15pm tomorrow, Tuesday, 6th November 2012.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
Media enquiries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht
Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD; Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).
Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).