Irish Water’s appearance before Environment Committee does not preclude it from coming before PAC – Harris

Fine Gael Wicklow TD and member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Simon Harris, has today (Saturday) stated that the fact that Irish Water has agreed to appear before the Environment Committee does not preclude the semi State company from also coming before the PAC.

“There seems to be a suggestion in some quarters that because Irish Water has agreed to go before the Dáil’s Environment Committee, it shouldn’t also appear before the PAC. This is at odds with a statement from Irish Water issued on Friday, which stated that its representatives would appear before any Oireachtas Committee.

“The PAC has a well established reputation for examining and exposing the inappropriate use of public money. I welcome the fact that Irish Water is to appear before the Environment Committee, but this shouldn’t lessen its obligation to explain to the PAC – the public spending watchdog – how and why it spent €50 million on consultants.

“It is nothing usual for an organisation to appear before more than one Dáil committee. For example, the Health Service Executive regularly goes before the Health Committee to discuss health policy and other issues, and it also appears before the PAC to discuss issues surrounding the spending of public money.

“There does not seem to be any reluctance from Irish Water to appear before any Dáil Committee. I will be raising the issue with the PAC at our meeting on Thursday, with the intention of getting an agreement to invite Irish Water to appear before the Committee.”

ENDS