Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government, on the other hand, has a vision. It is a vision for a country in which every household connected to public water supplies has a high quality, reliable water supply and has established a relationship with this new, national utility that is based on customer service, reliability and good communications. It is a vision for an adequately funded water and wastewater system in which the necessary funding is obtained to upgrade public water supplies, have low leakage levels and adequate levels of waste water treatment to keep our rivers, lakes and coastal waters free of pollution, helping to maintain Ireland's image as a clean, green country that continues to attract a growing number of tourists.

The vision includes a security of quality water supply through effective services, quality asset management and significant investment so that Ireland is seen as a water secure country in the future, notwithstanding the challenges of a rising population, economic recovery and climate change, and a water secure country in a context where the global scenario is heading towards demand exceeding supply by 40%. It is a vision in which Ireland's security of supply will guarantee current and future competitiveness for industries such as agrifood, ICT and pharma-chem, which combined, provide well over 200,000 water intensive jobs in Ireland. It is a security of supply that will attract further water intensive industries to Ireland as other countries experience growing water shortages, creating further prosperity into the future.

I accept fully that there is much that remains to be done to see that vision fully realised, but it is a vision this Government is committed to realising. Establishment and effective operation is an essential part of realising that vision, and any issues that need to be addressed along the way towards realising that vision in full will be dealt with effectively and immediately.

Government is committed to giving clarity and certainty to people surrounding their water bills. This is absolutely going to happen. From both Ervia and Irish Water, I am expecting a reinvigoration in customer focus and to establish a much stronger relationship with the public and stakeholders. There has to be a seismic shift across the range of Irish Water activities. Put simply, this Government will reposition Irish Water in the public minds, and I expect this to happen immediately.

The question has been put to me in recent days about confidence in senior management of Irish Water. I am expecting them to deliver major changes in a short period of time and I have confidence both in the boards of Irish Water and Ervia, and their management teams, but I am demanding that they deliver.

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