Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentation. I thank Mr. Ó Coigligh for taking the hot seat and promise that I will not turn up the temperature too high.

The legislation is important and I am delighted that the Department has brought it to us. It is important in terms of our compliance with European law and, more important, the protection of our water supply.

I note the opening statement indicates the Department has consulted widely with the various stakeholders and, most important, the Environmental Protection Agency, Irish Water, the ESB and Waterways Ireland. What about small water extractors? How have people who have their own water supply been engaged in this process? Have they been formally engaged with? If not, then what is the proposal to ensure they are consulted? I appreciate that the Department is dealing with individuals but ask the witnesses to talk about how that has happened or how the Department proposes to conduct that.

When and if this legislation is passed, how will its functioning be reported to the general public? How will the information, such as the licensing and registrations, be made available? How will the operation of the process be transparent? What scope, if any, will there be in the future for amending the operation of the process?