Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Tierney and his team and hope their presence is indicative of a generally open approach to what is the most important and vital service we require in the country.

The witnesses are in charge of the most important service we require because we all need water in our daily lives and it is vital, along with electricity, for industry. I am very conscious of that and that it is very important the witnesses be given every opportunity to deliver an excellent service. The complexity of it is such that I have concerns on the delivery, governance, the technology involved, etc. On the way into this meeting I gave the witnesses a list of 18 technical questions for which I requested written replies. I can read them but the Chairman would probably prefer me not to. I would very much appreciate if the witnesses could reply to me and the committee on those technical questions on the delivery of IT systems, etc., as soon as possible.

I will be interested to hear the witnesses' comments on how they intend to interact generally with local authorities, particularly when problems arise, and what their legal obligations are to do so. Could they comment on an issue that arose in the media yesterday on the provision of a water provision facility in Cloghran in Fingal? The allegation on the radio was that they cannot go ahead with this because it was not ready to go to tender before the end of December. There may be more such issues. Will the witnesses be able to deal with them?