Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Notwithstanding my initial frustration, I recognise that the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, is well placed to understand the imperative for action, in particular, on urban wastewater.

I often use the analogy of high blood pressure as opposed to having your front teeth knocked out. Someone who has their front teeth knocked out will act on it straightaway because everybody can see it. However, people will live with high blood pressure for years and, eventually, it is what will kill them. It is very similar with our infrastructure investment. If someone has a pothole in front of their house, they will get it filled straightaway, if they know a politician and can get them on the end of the phone. However, critical infrastructure, such as our grid and water infrastructure, is far less visible, and because it is far less visible, the temptation is there not to invest in it in the same way. Ultimately, however, it is what will kill the economy. The Minister of State will be aware that when businesses, particularly large ones, are getting established in the economy, they look for a reliable supply of electricity and clean water. It is imperative, therefore, that we tackle this issue.

My concern is that the report, although excellent, only looks at urban wastewater treatment. I fear we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg here. I questioned representatives of Uisce Éireann at a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts earlier. I asked about the number of septic tanks being inspected by the local authorities. The percentage is minuscule. That feeds into the issue of private wells, for which the responsibility lies on the well owner. There is no registration or reporting and, therefore, we do not have a good picture of what is happening in these private water supplies.

I am glad that the Minister of State referenced that this is not the only pressure. Agriculture is a particular pressure. I know this was discussed with the EPA at a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in what was quite a fractious environment. It is imperative that we use an evidence base when we are formulating policy. This policy should certainly be towards investment in this infrastructure for now and for the future.

See this speech in context