No one wants to see Irish Water sold and I take on board many of the points made by Senator O'Brien. There is existing legislation and many issues to be examined. I am not stating the Senator is right or wrong. I do not think any of us can at this point be definitive, but I do not think we should rush into it. Senator Norris made a point on this being a reflective Chamber. On this issue we need to reflect a little.

We have a lot of reflection to do.

I am not procrastinating, but I am opposed to rushing into anything.

We are looking for clarity.

What Senator Cullinane thinks might be clarity today might not be tomorrow, with respect.

You might want to sell it off tomorrow.

Senator Cullinane should look at what his leader said at the beginning and what he is saying now. We are all in solidarity with people who genuinely cannot afford to pay. There will be a scheme, whether a waiver or whatever, for these people. I accept what Senator O'Brien stated, namely, that everybody wants to do the right thing. I want to see this being a reflective Chamber. I want to see us doing the right thing.

Have a referendum.

I just do not think we can say definitively now what the right approach is.

That is the right approach.

We need to examine things.

Provide clarity, please.

Pause a while on this. We will examine it. We will have a debate later today-----

Make it meaningful by passing the motion.

-----and perhaps some good suggestions will come forward. I appeal to Senators to reflect and give it a little time rather than rushing to a vote willy-nilly.

As far as a referendum is concerned, and it is a matter to be considered later, those drafting it had better be aware that Veolia, which has major investments in water in this country, has already privatised part of the water system. In 2010 it was awarded a 20-year contract to design, build and operate Greystones wastewater treatment facility. Its largest municipal contract in Ireland is the Clareville drinking water treatment plant. It has water collection operations in Roscommon. It operates from Kilkenny and has offices in Sligo, Galway and Roscommon. Somebody tell me how we can have a referendum now on contracts already granted for more than 20 years. Would Veolia be excluded from a referendum or would its contracts be torn up in this regard?

They are also investments.

Be very well aware that contracts have been entered into with a private multinational company, Veolia, which now operates throughout the length and breadth of Ireland in treatment plants for water and sewerage. Let us get real about this. Privatisation has already taken place. I have no problem with referendums, but if one is drafted be very conscious of the fact there will be a constitutional-----

Tell Senator O'Brien-----

Senator Leyden, without interruption, please.

I am informing the House of the realities of life with regard to a constitutional referendum. I support my colleague, Senator O'Brien, on a referendum, but there are private schemes in Glinsk and Oran in my area and in a sense they are in community ownership. Would these water schemes have to be taken back into public ownership or would they be excluded from operating these schemes? Bear in mind it is not a simplistic question. I just want to bring this to the attention of the House, based on my experience in both Houses and in dealing with Veolia, which is a very demanding operator-----

That is why we must examine it further.

Of course we will examine it, but I am alerting my colleagues to the fact that whatever constitutional amendment is drafted it will have to exclude those companies operating at present which have privatised supplies in various parts of the countryside, including Roscommon. I am aware of this information and I would not by carrying out my responsibilities if I did not bring them to the attention of the House. I have very detailed analysis on the amount of water being treated by Veolia in Ireland at present and I will bring it to the attention of the media today.