Dr. Michelle Minihan:

Regarding access to water, including tap water, the committee may be aware that a new recast of the drinking water directive was signed by the Commission in January. It will need to be transposed into Irish law by January 2023. One of the key drivers behind the revision of the drinking water directive was ensuring that all parts of society, including marginalised and vulnerable populations, had access to clean and safe drinking water for their needs. While it remains to be seen how it will be transposed, one of the key new requirements in the directive is that member states must promote the use of tap water in order to reduce bottled water waste and the usage of disposable plastic bottles. That is coming down the tracks at us from January 2023.