Water Services Training Group
17th Annual Conference
Creating a new Irish
Water Industry
INEC, Killarney, 5th September 2013
1
Creating a new Irish Water
Industry
Water Services Legislation
Ivan Grimes
Principal Officer
Water Policy Section, DECLG
Context
 Why is legislation is required?
 Programme for Government Commitment
 Agreement with EU – IMF – ECB
 Provide for Reform of Water Services Provision
 Introduction of Domestic Charges
Existing Legislative Framework
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Primary Legislation:
Water Services Act 2007
Water Pollution Acts
1977-1990
Public Health Act 1878
Local Government
(Sanitary Services)
Act 1962
Secondary Legislation:
• European Communities
(Drinking Water)
Regulations
• Waste Water Discharge
Authorisation Regulations
• Urban Waste Water
Treatment Regulations
New Legislation
 Phased Approach to legislative change
Water Services
Act 2013
Water Services
(No. 2) Bill 2013
•Enacted
March 2013
•Currently being
drafted in AGO
Water Services Act 2013
 Bill Published December 2012, enacted March 2013
 Provides for establishment of Irish Water/Uisce Éireann as
subsidiary of Bord Gáis
 Corporate Governance Arrangements
 Domestic Water Metering Programme
 Transition to Water Services Utility
 Commission for Energy Regulation Advisory Powers
Current Status
Irish Water
Incorporated
July 2013
Procurement Process
Work Well Advanced
Contractors
Appointed
Installation
of Meters
underway
Customer
Database
Billing
Systems
CER
Regulatory
Model for
water
services
Charges Timeline
Government has
agreed with
EU-ECB-IMF
Effective Q4 2014
Next Steps –
Preparation of Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013
 The Bill will provide Irish Water with full utility powers
Scheme Approved
by Government July
2013
Currently being
drafted by AGO
To be Published
Autumn 2013
To be Enacted by
end of 2013
Key elements
Water Services Bill 2013
 Transfer of water services functions
 Transfer of the assets and liabilities
 Legal framework for service level agreements
 Corporate governance arrangements for Irish Water
Key elements
Water Services Bill 2013
 Addresses planning issues
 Powers for Irish Water to collect water charges
 Provision of powers to CER
 Powers for the EPA
 Local authorities responsibility
Legislative Process
Government has
approved
proposals for
legislation
Bill is being
drafted by the
Attorney
General’s Office
Bill will be
considered by
Government before
it is published
Legislation to be
considered by the
Oireachtas and will
need to be enacted
by end 2013
Consultations
 Multiple Stakeholders:
Local
Authorities
- Individual Local Authorities
- Elected Members
- LA Staff and Unions
- CCMA
- WS Transition Office
Consultations
Government
Departments
- DPER
- Finance
- Social Protection
Other
Agencies
- EPA
- DECNR
- CER
- Transport
- Data Protection
- Taoiseach
- Others
- Tanaiste
Public & Media
Engagement with Oireachtas
Process
Legislative process in Oireachtas is very formal
Published Bill
“belongs” to the Oireachtas
(not the Government)
Approval
Required to be approved by Dáil
and Seanad (and committees)
Amendments
All parties can propose amendments
Signing
Once all stages passed, Act is signed by
President – still open to challenge at this point