Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for so ably filling in for his colleagues on such technical legislation.

This Bill, despite its technical nature, is important.

Since the water framework directive was introduced in 2000, there has been an obligation on this State to know something very simple, namely, how much water is extracted from our natural water sources at any given time across the country. Why is that important? If you do not know what is being abstracted, you cannot manage it. You cannot manage it to ensure that communities and businesses, including tourism and natural wildlife businesses, have access to water and that water is being properly maintained from an environmental and ecosystems point of view. In an era of climate change in which droughts and floods are becoming increasingly prevalent, including in our own country, the idea that we are only now beginning to consider asking people to tell us how much water is being extracted from the water table is truly astounding. This is no abstract matter, if Members will excuse the play on words. As the Minister of State will know, given his own constituency, flooding and drought are real issues that have huge impacts on communities, businesses, wildlife and biodiversity.

For these reasons, it is exceptionally disappointing that, despite the committee having given the Government this pre-legislative scrutiny report two years ago, we are getting 90 minutes next week to consider amendments. Is it 90 minutes?

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