Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Irish Water has received significant resources to invest in water supply across the country. That is something the Government has committed to. There is always a balance. It all depends on the context. For example, I do not believe that representatives of Irish Water should attend council meetings. I do not see the purpose of that, but they should meet local authorities through the relevant committee. There should be consultation with officials and elected representatives, but this should be done at more work-like meetings as opposed to council meetings, where people just get up and launch attacks and no one is any the wiser when it is all over. There should be more engagement. I engaged with Irish Water on a very controversial issue some years back. I found the consultation very useful. An independent mediator was appointed to deal with various water schemes that have now all been completed and that have brought great benefits. Originally, those schemes were opposed because of issues relating to construction and so on.

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