27.— (1) The Commission may, upon the commencement of this section, do all such things as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the performance by it of water regulatory functions under any enactment passed after the passing of this Act.

(2) The Commission may—

(a) advise the Minister in relation to the development of policy regarding the regulation of the provision of water services, or

F55[(b) consult with F56[Uisce Éireann], members of the public or such other persons as it considers appropriate in relation to the performance of any of its functions under this Act or the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013.]

(3) In this section—

“water regulatory functions” means, in relation to the Commission, functions, as respects the provision of water services by any person, that are the same as or similar to the functions of the Commission under the Act of 1999, and includes—

(a) functions relating to the fixing of charges in respect of the provision of such water services,

(b) the specification of minimum standards of service as respects the provision of such water services,

(c) the protection of the interests of persons to whom water services are provided;

“water services” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2007.