Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I will be well able to do this in three minutes.

I thank the EPA, Fingal County Council and Irish Water for attending. Their presence is important. I will stick to Dr. Ryan's opening statement, which we had the advantage of having supplied to us earlier. I will take him through three or four points.

This is a critical public health issue for people in areas served by this water supply. More important, it is an issue of public confidence in the water supply chain and all those involved therein. That is why we must deal with it. I do not want to speculate or comment on press coverage; rather, I will deal with the facts that Dr. Ryan has just put on the record. I draw his attention to page 2 of his statement, where he referred to auditing drinking waters and treatment processes and the EPA's capacity to issue legal directions and take legal prosecutions. What directions has it made and what prosecutions has it taken in respect of the Leixlip plant? He also referred to the EPA's remedial action list. How is that progressing? Will he make a copy available to the committee? It is important that we fully understand it and see who has designated responsibility for the relevant actions. He might also provide something charting the progress that has been made and the key people responsible for delivering the actions on the list.

Page 3 mentions replacing lead water mains and household pipes. It is not a major issue for discussion today, but by raising it, Dr. Ryan has put it into this meeting's domain. He might provide us at some future date with a progress report on the EPA's planned works for the changeover from lead water pipes.

Mention was made of cryptosporidium and related issues. I would hate to think there was cryptosporidium in any water supply. Dr. Ryan discussed the parasites that humans and animals can acquire from water. Can Dr. Ryan tell us that there is no cryptosporidium in any water supply? What affected water supplies does the EPA know of?

On the UV system, I am very familiar with it. I know from work I have done in relation to it how successful it is. In his opening statement, Dr. Ryan referenced a recommendation that an UV system be put in place. Did that happen? What was set in train? The EPA made the recommendation in regard to the UV system and the likely success of it in killing off cryptosporidium and other parasites, etc. Was there follow-up in regard to that recommendation? There is no point in making recommendations if they are not followed up. I ask Dr. Ryan to update the committee in that regard.

I thank the witnesses. They have been very helpful. If they cannot address any of the issues I have raised today, I ask that they would keep the committee apprised in regard to those matters.