Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We absolutely have to resolve that problem. The health of our people comes first and the first base load of that is having a healthy environment, clean water and all the other services we need. My understanding is that an EPA investigation file was opened in December 2023 and that has to be resolved. We have that independent assessment so that it is not left to Irish Water to assess what is appropriate or what will be done. We have regulatory systems to make sure we have a clean environment.

I will make a couple of points on the Deputy's commentary. We have not privatised Irish Water; it is the exact opposite. We have enshrined the constitutional imperative that water is a basic necessity and the existence of a right to water. That has not led us down the privatisation route like we have seen in the UK. Is it for appropriate for Irish Water to use contractors? Absolutely. I do not think the entire work has to be done within existing direct labour or other systems. I believe Irish Water is a highly capable organisation. From the left, I stand up for the State. The €1.53 billion we put into Irish Water every year is starting to deliver in the context of reducing the direct pumping of sewage. The key with water is that is connected to our housing issue. We need to provide water infrastructure so we can have development in Cork and elsewhere. I believe Irish Water is doing a good job. I do not have the full details but if, as the Deputy said, Irish Water made a mistake in whatever was in this regard, it has to acknowledge that. That would be something for the EPA to assess. That does not mean that Irish Water is not delivering for the Irish people; far from it. It is. If I have those details, I will certainly pass them on, and on behalf of the Government, I will encourage the EPA and Irish Water to rigorously pursue what happened to resolve the problem and make sure the people of Cork have clean water, which they deserve.

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