Yesterday I asked the Taoiseach questions about the establishment of Irish Water, particularly whether he could confirm that senior members of local authorities had left their positions in local authorities with very generous pension lump sums - in one case totalling up to €340,000 and in another case €270,000 - before moving seamlessly to Irish Water, where they will again receive very high salaries and top-up bonuses as well. The Taoiseach refused to answer the question yesterday. Irish Water also refused to answer the question or to confirm or deny the allegation. Does the Taoiseach accept that this has happened - that very senior members of local authorities who have received very generous packages, totalling up to €340,000 with pensions, are being employed by Irish Water? Does the Taoiseach consider it right that this should happen and that such staff should move into positions where there will be top-up bonuses in addition to what they already have? Does he think it is fair or right and does he stand over it?

First, I did not refuse to answer Deputy Martin’s question at all. I said that the detail of the question asked was not available to me and I confirmed that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government had formally written to the chief executive of Irish Water seeking all aspects of the remuneration policies in respect of the people who work for Irish Water, and I said that when the information was supplied to the Minister it would be made public.

As I said to Deputy Martin last week and the previous week, Irish Water is a public utility and it will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. It will also be subject to parliamentary questions in the House. The information Deputy Martin requested in the interests of the public will be published. I do not have the answers to the question he asked yesterday.

The Taoiseach does have the answers.

I did not refuse to answer the Deputy’s question. When the information is supplied by Irish Water it will be made public in everybody’s interest.

The Taoiseach does have the answers and he does know the story. What I have said is fact. I asked the Taoiseach whether he thinks it is right, given where we are, that people can leave with very generous lump sums and huge pensions and move seamlessly into a new operation where they will enjoy top-up bonuses in addition to high salaries. This is a very important issue for a lot of people watching. There are many young, talented people who are specialists in water who did not get a look-in when it came to recruiting senior personnel to Irish Water. More than half the staff are from local authorities, Bord Gáis and other State agencies or from companies that had strong connections with these. Young, talented, qualified persons with considerable experience did not get a look-in. That is what has happened in this case. The perception is that there was an inside track - a club of sorts - operating in terms of recruitment practices.

We all know about the clubs.

That is what people believe. We have been raising the issue for two to three weeks and the Taoiseach has said there is nothing to hide, yet he could not confirm either today or yesterday some simple realities that are in the public domain.

There is a cosy cartel.

That is wrong. Does the Taoiseach consider that what has happened is right? Does he consider the practice to be correct and proper?

Deputy Martin does not stand by his own word. He is the person who said that members of his party who were afraid to face the people would not walk away with pay-outs and he did not live up to his word. I am telling Deputy Martin the truth. I do not have the answer to the question he asked. I will not put him or anybody else in a particular position by making a claim that I cannot stand over. What I will stand over is that in the interests-----

The Taoiseach could just make a telephone call to the CEO of Irish Water and he would find out very quickly. It is in the newspapers already.

I am sorry-----

Please. Deputy Martin should allow the Taoiseach to respond without interruption.

Deputy Martin was not able to do it.

The Taoiseach is quite capable of answering for himself.

Deputy Martin sat on the Government side of the House with people who walked away with substantial bonuses.

The Taoiseach should answer for members of his own party.

Deputy Martin has changed his spots a thousand times. I have already confirmed that Irish Water - Uisce Éireann - will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. I have also confirmed that-----

It is a simple question: is it right or wrong?

Is the Taoiseach subject to freedom of information?

Excuse me. The runaway train Deputy Cowen speaks of will end up in the House-----

It will have crashed long before it gets here.

-----because the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government will answer parliamentary questions to Deputies on all sides of the House about Irish Water.

Is it right?

Let me confirm for Deputy Martin-----

Is it right?

Is it right that somebody who worked in the public service, who retired and who took his or her lump sum payment and pension should be re-employed in the public service?

Is it?

Does Deputy Martin not know that for many years a system has applied? Are we to change it now? But in the interests of transparency, accountability and-----

The Taoiseach should answer his own question.

Does the Taoiseach think it is right?

The Deputies never listen.

The Taoiseach is asking the questions, not answering them.

Would Members please allow the Taoiseach to conclude? The matter is over time already.

In the interest of public information, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has formally written to the chief executive of Irish Water asking for the information relevant to remuneration, pay and conditions and the question Deputy Martin asked.

What about the recruitment process?

When the information comes back it will be in the interests of the public and the users of the service of Irish Water in the time ahead. I hope we are all on the side of transparency and accountability. That is the position. I cannot answer for all of the people who work in Irish Water.

Is it right or wrong? Yes or no.

Is it acceptable?

The Minister has formally written to the chief executive seeking all of the information relevant to remuneration, pay and conditions. The information will be made public.

It has not been made public.

It will be made public.