Second Stage

Part of Executive Committee Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 12:00 pm on 29 September 2009.

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Photo of Raymond McCartney Raymond McCartney Sinn Féin 12:00, 29 September 2009

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom a rá go mbeidh Sinn Féin ag tacú leis an Bhille, agus táimid ar son leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair seo.

Sinn Féin will support the taking forward of this Bill. The Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill is designed to ensure the continued provision of a subsidy to NIW by the Department. Therefore, as has been stated, it is very much a technical Bill.

The current situation is that the Department’s ability and legal competence to pay a subsidy to NIW expires on 31 March 2010. That was a condition that was laid out in the Water and Sewerage Services Order 2006, which, in essence, established the company on 1 April 2007. If that Order expires, there will be no provision for the Department to provide grants or subsidies to NIW. Therefore, the company’s ability to exist and its ability to continue with the provision and management of our water and sewerage system will come to an end. This Bill will provide the basis to move forward and allow NIW to continue with its investment programmes and related works.

I welcome the decision, as outlined by the Chairperson, that the Committee for Regional Development supports the principles of the Bill. We look forward to working with it. Irrespective of decisions that were made in the past by previous Administrations — all of us have our own views of those decisions — as the Chairperson pointed out, it is incumbent on all of us to ensure that NIW operates within a financially stable environment and to allow the continuation of its work. The Bill allows that to happen.

We also support the Bill because it creates a mechanism by which the Executive can continue to defer water and sewerage charges. I agree with the Chairperson that it will be important to seek clarification at Committee Stage of the direct and indirect costs of deferral. Those issues have been discussed on many occasions at the Committee and will, undoubtedly, be revisited at Committee Stage.

I welcome the commitment of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and the Committee to prioritise the Bill. I assure the Minister of the full co-operation of Members on this side of the House as he takes the Bill forward. Go raibh maith agat.