Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I have given the secretariat my full list of questions. I would appreciate if each of them could be answered, at the convenience of the witnesses, within the next week.

Why did Irish Water make a mistake in the specification for the supply of water meter boxes that should have included a requirement for the enablement of a radio signal propagation? How did Irish Water expect the radio signal to get out of the box when they ordered a cast iron covered box? Why did Irish Water sign a contract for cast iron covered boxes when it was not possible for radio waves to get through the metal? Who took the decision to order the wrong water meter boxes? Was there an engineer in Irish Water with radio and electronic qualifications?

It would be ridiculous, gentlemen, for us to be here today without showing the delegation what we are talking about. Irish Water has already stated that it had a report of 14 broken covers. I can tell the delegation that there are 15 broken covers because I have one here in my hand. The cover was broken by vehicles driving over it. I also have pictures here of boxes that have been located in crazy positions where lorries, creamery lorries, tractors, trailers and heavy vehicles drive over them which has led to the boxes being broken.

The main thing is the difference between a grade B and a grade C cover. It is very important for people to realise what we are talking about. That is important but what they sit on is more important. One is strong and will not break while one is weak and will break, and is breaking. It is ridiculous to say there are only 14 reported complaints. People who walk and who cycle see them every day in this cracked condition. Do we telephone Irish Water to report them? Of course, we do not. If I walk around Dublin tonight and see a cracked cover, will I check what street I am on and telephone Irish Water in the morning and report it? Let us not be silly. One knows that will not happen and that is the reason Irish Water is not inundated with people reporting these broken covers. It is ridiculous to think that one cover will do the same job as the other. The extra cost that was involved was minimal when one considers the consequences of installing these inferior covers, that is, replacing those that break as well as the possibility of litigation arising if people get hurt. There is a myriad of problems and difficulties. That Irish Water went to England to purchase them from an English company, owned by a German parent company, did not make sense when a product was available here. I cannot see for the life of me why Irish Water is insisting to this day that it was right to install an inferior product given what was actually required. One would have allowed for the meter to be read remotely and Irish Water would have had no problem with it. This does not make sense.

I look forward to getting replies to the questions I have submitted. They are detailed and deserve answers. An inferior product, which is breaking, is being installed. This product will continue to break for years to come and will end up costing taxpayers thousands, even millions, of euro because of the decision taken at that time.