Coalition record on utility clear as mud

THERE is nothing secret about it and nothing that will be secret about it. This was the Taoiseach’s defence of Irish Water, which he told the Dáil yesterday will be fully accountable and fully transparent.

But the focus of the controversy has now shifted to why information — which it has emerged was provided to the Department of the Environment by the utility company — was not released in response to questions from members of the Oireachtas.

“All this information was with [Environment Minister Phil] Hogan and the department for well over 12 months,” Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin told the Taoiseach.