The Taoiseach said he could not speak for Mr. McNicholas. I did not ask him to speak for Mr. McNicholas. I asked the Taoiseach to say whether he thinks it is satisfactory that the man who heads up Irish Water's parent company owns significant shares in a company that is set to make millions from Irish Water contracts. It is very simple. Does the Taoiseach accept that this is a satisfactory situation? He may also know that more than 17,000 people who returned their packs to Irish Water did so without filling them in. That was an act of peaceful and democratic protest by them against water charges. It is part of a real democratic revolution. They made it clear that they did not want to be customers of Irish Water, but Irish Water signed them up against their will in an act of extreme arrogance that was characteristic of this Government and of the company. Can the Taoiseach tell us whether the behaviour of a man who has a huge number of shares, worth €1 million, and is set to earn money from this whole project is appropriate and satisfactory? Does he believe that Irish Water's appropriation of the names and addresses of citizens who are clearly opposed to water charges, in order to sign them up for water charges, is legitimate or fair? Would it even stand up to Irish contract law?

Obviously, the question the Taoiseach is asking me is a matter for Ervia. Mr. McNicholas has stated that he had declared that he had shares in NTR. He declared his interest in the company quite openly.

I am asking for the Taoiseach's views.

He also excused himself from any commercial or contractual dealings with Celtic Anglian Water, as required under the Ervia code of conduct. He is completely in compliance with that code. He said he would divest his shares - more than 400,000 of them - in NTR and give the proceeds to Focus Ireland.

We should take out the violins.

I note that Mr. McNicholas will step down from his role on the advisory committee of NTR to ensure there is no appearance of conflict of interest.

So it is okay.

I welcome his commitment to building public confidence in Irish Water and to ensuring there are appropriate governance structures within the utility. As Deputy Adams knows, the Government is taking steps to strengthen the governance of Irish Water to improve public confidence in the utility. A single unitary board for the Ervia group is being established, with new members chosen for their particular competence and expertise. I hope the Government has responded to the legitimate concerns and anxieties-----

I knew all of what the Taoiseach has just told me. I asked for his opinions.

-----expressed by the people about PPS numbers, call-out charges and bonus regimes.

Will Deputy Coonan withdraw his remarks about the people of Dublin?

Sorry, please.

I hope all of these issues have been dealt with fairly, clearly and with certainty.

Will the Taoiseach answer my questions?

Deputy Coonan should withdraw his remarks now.