Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I, too, am concerned about the quality of our drinking water and rivers throughout the country. It was inexcusable that people in Galway had to boil their water for weeks. It took a councillor from our party to drink a pint of water for the problem to be resolved. It is inexcusable that many farmers and factories get away with polluting water and we need more policing. We need more frontline staff and it is important that the Minister employs more people immediately. To have to wait until 2015 for the water framework directive to be implemented and our water supply to be brought into line with the rest of Europe is unacceptable. Can the Minister reassure people that the water they drink is of adequate quality?

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