Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is good and I am sure it will make it a big difference. I expect he will have the sewerage scheme staff in place in the morning.

In Clonmel and other towns there have been sewerage problems for years. I salute the council workers who went out regularly to free blockages where sewers were going through people's private property. Now Irish Water will not allow those workers to go through householders' front gates. There are huge problems with public sewers running through people's gardens but council staff can no longer go in and free up the blockages. Irish Water must think householders are complete idiots.

There has been much talk about legacy. JFK liked to talk about that and so does the Minister, Deputy Kelly. Yesterday, chest puffed out, he told us his legacy will be to sort out this issue, even though he was not the one who set it in train. The project was brought forward by the former Minister, Phil Hogan, or Big Phil as I used to call him. I wish him well in his new job. The Minister, Deputy Kelly, was trying to blame everything on Big Phil, but he cannot shift all the blame. This is a joint process; this baby was created by both Fine Gael and the Labour Party and is being delivered now by the Minister, Deputy Kelly. Irish Water staff have been in this building today, the third successive week in which they have come here to meet Oireachtas Members. I was not told about those meetings and nor were any of my colleagues.

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