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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Irish Water people’s forum

Summary

Senator O’Donnell asks when the promised Irish Water people’s forum will be established and also seeks the appointment of a lottery regulator; exchanges with Senator O’Brien follow before the Chair restores order.

I ask the Leader to reiterate once again to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, the call to come to the House and tell us when he intends to establish the people's forum for Irish Water that was promised.

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I believe we should pay for water and I believe it should be metered, but some of us voted based on the idea of a plebiscite and the setting up of a people's forum, which is provided for in the legislation. I would like to see that established.

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The Senator should not hold her breath.

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This is the second time I have asked this question and I would like an answer. I would like the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, to come here and tell the House when he intends to do that.

The second question is for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin. I was one of the lone speakers who opposed the sale of the national lottery. When is the lottery regulator being put in place, having been promised as a great white hope? I was totally against the sale of the lottery and I am still against it. I think it will come back to haunt us financially as well as in many other ways, and we are beginning to see the buds of that. When will the lottery regulator and the people's forum be put in place? I have stood by my word in regard to voting for the water services legislation and I expect the Minister to stand by his word. I would like an answer to both of those questions.

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The Senator is probably noticing a bit of a trend there. They just do not do what they say they will do.

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I did not ask Fianna Fáil for an answer. I asked the Leader.

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He had no answer.

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All we got from Fianna Fáil was trouble.

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

I call Senator Brennan, without interruption.

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I am not asking for an answer from the Senator; I am asking the Leader.

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

Will Senator O'Donnell please refrain from-----

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The Senator will notice the fact that the Government does not deliver.

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

I call Senator Terry Brennan without interruption.

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