Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

The issue of metropolitan and regional government, in particular in Dublin, works well on a river basin level. The Liffey catchment should be considered as a unified entity. More can be done in this regard. The European Union is driving that agenda.

Ultimately, when it comes to our water supply we have had decades if not a century of under-investment. I am proud that the Green Party has in each of the three years since it entered Government in 2007 increased investment in our water supply services from €480 million to €510 million annually. The move towards residential water metering is to be welcomed. Those who use water excessively for washing their cars or filling swimming pools must pay significantly for it.

I welcome Fine Gael's interest in this area. The weather crisis was tough but we got through it. If it recurs we will be better prepared.

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