Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Mullins and his team, thank them for the information they have given us and for their presentation. It is somewhat ironic that we are discussing security of supply of water in a country where it never seems to stop raining, winter or summer. We are surrounded by water and yet, looking into the future, we seem to have nothing but water problems.

I wish Bord Gáis well with the Irish Water venture. It is important that we get it right and that the company is successful. I am sure, based on its record, it will make a success of Irish Water. Will Mr. Mullins be around long enough to see this through in five years time - he indicated he had other intentions - or are we looking at a potential managing director here in our midst? That is for Mr. Mullins to comment upon but we certainly wish him well with the project.

He mentioned the agrifood programme for 2020 which will place an enormous emphasis on water. It is important for agricultural production and food manufacture that we have proper supply of water. I am concerned about one proposal. Does Irish Water favour the proposal from Bord na Móna to plunder Lough Derg in County Tipperary in order to bring water to Dublin? What does Mr. Mullins think of opening up the supply of water to other concerns, or looking at other options? For example, there is an enormous aquifer in Lisheen Mines in County Tipperary which is being pumped out at considerable cost. That would be more than enough to supply Dublin and its surrounding areas. We are told there is a huge aquifer in Kildare-Meath and the Dublin area. Are Irish Water or Bord Gáis prepared to look at other alternatives? Lough Derg is a special area of conservation and this is of great concern to local people. People might accept the extraction of water but not to a lake which would then compete, on a tourism level, with what is available on Lough Derg. If there were boating on such a lake it would be in direct competition with Lough Derg. What is in it for County Tipperary and that particular area? The companies will encounter severe difficulties with that proposal. I would like to know what their attitude is and whether they are considering other proposals that would augment security of supply or water supply in the area.

I do not wish to go over matters that were mentioned but I refer, for example, to quality of water. Mr. Mullins stated it was important to have public acceptance of what Irish Water will do. What is the view of Irish Water on the fluoridation of water about which there is considerable public concern?

Some local authorities no longer use fluoride. In some countries its use is actually banned. In the event that our guests are concerned about people's dental health, I must inform them that I have two dogs at home and neither of them will drink from the public water supply. They would rather go hunting for water to drink from streams, puddles or whatever. I can assure our guests that my dogs have very good teeth. This is a matter of growing concern among people and I would like our guests' opinions in respect of it.

Mr. Mullins stated that Irish Water will purchase over 1 million boundary boxes and meters and that this "will be a significant international tender". Is he stating that the company will not be prepared to consider tenders from indigenous Irish companies? There is a company in Limerick which has received international awards for the flow meters it produces. If that company were successful in winning the contract to supply meters, this would lead to the creation of significant additional employment and would provide a big boost to the area in Limerick in which its operation is located. I am a Corkman but just because the company operates out of Limerick - and is headed up by a person from Tipperary - it should not be ignored. I am sure there are other companies that could produce the types of meter required. Why has Mr. Mullins stated that it must be a significant international tender? This is a matter about which I am concerned.

People will be obliged to pay for water, which is fine. However, they are being driven mad by the fact that they are also obliged to pay for the disposal of waste water. This represents a double charge. How do our guests propose to deal with this issue, particularly in view of the fact that some local authorities charge for the disposal of waste water? The installation of modern meter technology could make it easy for families to know the exact amount of water they use. New meters should be readily accessible inside people's homes, rather than the case at present, which is that people are obliged to make a big effort to access their meters.

Mr. Mullins stated that Irish Water would be engaging local contractors. Will he indicate whether it will be the company that appoints these contractors, or the local authorities? When does he expect the work to commence? Will Irish Water ensure this work is advertised in such a way that local contractors will have an opportunity to tender for it?

Exciting times lie ahead for Irish Water and I wish our guests well. Bord Gáis is at least subject to some degree of competition. Will Mr. Mullins provide an assurance that the general public will not be ripped off due to Irish Water's monopoly in supplying water? Have our guests engaged in discussions with Northern Ireland Water? We met representatives from the latter and they pointed out some of the pitfalls that exist. Does Irish Water have a constructive working arrangement with Northern Ireland Water which would allow us to avoid imposing additional costs on taxpayers?