Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach mentioned Uisce Éireann's new task force, which came about under pressure from below. It is there now, however. It seems to operate in quite a closed and secretive way. I have asked, as have campaigners, that a representative from one of the affected communities be appointed to the task force. We asked that an experienced water worker representative also be appointed to that task force. There has been no joy from Uisce Éireann in that regard. Perhaps the Taoiseach will voice his support for those basic democratic demands in the Dáil today. He spoke about the flushing plan Uisce Éireann is putting in place that was announced last night, which is to target areas on the north side of the city, including Gurranabraher and Montenotte. It is no accident that Gurranabraher is one of the communities, given the protest there last week. Again, that was due to pressure from below.

The feedback we have from water workers and people living in communities where flushing programmes have taken place is that while they have an effect in the short term, the problem tends to re-emerge after a period, sometimes to the point of being as bad or even worse than it was previously. Will the Taoiseach please give me a reply to my question on emergency reliefs in his summing up?

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