I have called for a debate on Irish Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation's water services plan twice in the past two weeks. I have asked the Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, to come to the House to discuss these issues. The former Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, stated: "Irish Water has come across as arrogant and uncaring, demanding money and demanding PPS numbers without properly explaining why all of this is necessary." He said it was "another cosseted quango with a bonus culture". He set up Irish Water and is now saying it has become a complete disaster. It is a pity he did not listen to those on this side of the House when we spent 16 or 17 hours discussing the Water Services Bill. Almost all of the concerns raised by those on this side of the House have now come to pass. They were dismissed by the former Minister of State and the Government parties at the time which voted in favour of the Bill.

Irish Water has become tainted by cronyism and a bonus culture. It is a complete waste of taxpayers' money. Huge amounts of money were spent on consultants. We now see that Irish Water is telling people, especially those who have no more money to give, that if they cannot pay their water charges they will be deprived of adequate water through a reduction in supply. Is that what we have come to as a society? People who cannot afford to pay water charges will be bullied and will have their water supply reduced. The Government is putting people in an awful position. I challenged the Leader last week and he did not answer the question. Some families cannot afford to pay their mortgages, have empty oil tanks which they cannot afford to fill or cannot afford to put food on the table. What advice would he give them when the water bills arrive on 1 January?

The Senator is way over time.

I am putting forward an amendment to the Order of Business. I ask the Minister of State to come before the House. I also invite the former Minister of State to come to the Visitors Gallery to listen to the debate.

Is the Senator proposing an amendment to the Order of Business? He is eating into his colleagues' time.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I call on the Minister of State with responsibility for Irish Water to come before the House today.