Domestic water charges report
Paddy Burke asks how the expert report on domestic water charges will proceed and to whom the joint committee will report; the Chair says it is due to both Houses by 28 February.
I ask the Leader to outline to the House how the expert report on domestic water charges will proceed. A joint committee has been established and the expert report from the committee will go to that committee. What will happen? When the joint committee makes its recommendations, will they be made to the Dáil or both Houses? We have no involvement in bringing forward a referendum, if one is required, in regard to Irish Water. We cannot impose a charge on the Exchequer, if charges were to be abolished or further charges imposed on citizens. I am at somewhat of a loss as to know what will happen when the joint committee makes its recommendations. Will they go to the Dáil alone or will this House have an opportunity to debate the expert report that was commissioned? Will we have an opportunity to debate the report of the joint committee? I do not expect the Leader to have all the answers today, but I ask him to outline to the House at some stage how matters will proceed.
Comment on this
On that, a motion was passed last week to establish the joint committee. I understand it will report by 28 February, and will report to both Houses. The Leader can expand on that.
On Senator Wilson's comments, I am sure it is possible to pay tribute to Deirdre Lane. She was an extremely efficient and hardworking lady who served the Seanad impartially. I was not aware of the date, but Senator Wilson probably has his facts right and that she retired from the job, as she is so entitled, on 21 October. There is a problem. The outgoing Cathaoirleach mentioned in his final remarks some months ago that there was a lack of staff for the Seanad Office. That has been exacerbated by the fact that we do not have a Clerk. It is an issue of which we should be acutely aware.
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges cannot get up and running because we do not have the staff to operate it. When there are stress points, there are problems. I do not want to say any more. Members should be aware of the situation. Perhaps the Leader can endeavour to use his political influence to move things on and rectify a situation that is not good for us for the future.