Ms Ann Marie Part:

On whether we feel we are getting buy-in, we work closely with our colleagues in the EPA, Irish Water, the local authorities and the various water suppliers. It is fair to say, in the main, that we are satisfied we get timely notification of consultations around issues. We have put in place a process in this regard. Since Irish Water became an entity, that has made our interaction with water service providers easier. Irish Water has an obligation to notify us and to consult with us. Regarding whether that happens in a timely manner all the time, I suppose there are no absolutes in life and we have learned from experiencing some situations that there may have been a breakdown in communication along the way. I agree with Dr. Ryan that a fair amount of learning has been derived from that experience. Equally, though, from a health authority perspective, it behoves us all to be vigilant and cautious and to keep an eye on things as they progress. Therefore, I would say there is still probably some room for improvement in this regard.