Dr. Tom Ryan:

As I said, our primary responsibility is to make sure the plant is up and running and water supplies of safe drinking quality are returned to the more than 600,000 people who are affected. That is our primary focus. Whatever powers and authority we have, we deploy to that end and we will continue to do that in the current situation.

The Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement powers under the drinking water regulations are limited but we engage with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on the legislation governing drinking water. The EPA would welcome the strengthening of its enforcement powers in this regard.