Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct that more information is needed, and that is why we are carrying out an investigation. When it has been completed we will be able to talk in detail about exactly what happened. I want to stress that this is a precautionary boil water notice. The water that went into the system was not dirty; it had been treated. The cleaning and purification process had commenced, but had not been completed. As a precaution and due to the potential for certain types of bacteria that may survive a chlorination process and possibly remain in the water, a precautionary boil water notice issued. That was the safe and smart thing to do. I know it is a major inconvenience and I am very sorry for it, but we want to be 100% sure that the water is safe and clean to drink.

The alarm event in March was fixed at the time. From that point on, there is no question about clean water. Was the system that allowed the mistake not to be rectified as quickly possible and the necessary steps put in place to deal with it? I would have had confidence that had been dealt with until this happened. Maybe they were not put in place in the right way, but I do not want to prejudge the report. We need see what comes from that.

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