Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I am concerned by Senator Bannon's comments on privatisation as it is not my understanding. My constituency has one of the greatest numbers of group and other water schemes in the country. There are many EU regulations regarding water quality and the feedback indicates the EU is very insistent that local authorities provide water to group water schemes. We are moving away from the idea of small private schemes which use perhaps a river or a well as a source and it is wrong to contend we are now on a privatisation route. More local authorities are taking over group water schemes which is good because the trustees of these schemes cannot go on forever, nor would they wish to. The Minister of State's amendment stipulates that local authorities are responsible for the maintenance, renewal and upkeep of water schemes, which I welcome. I thank the Minister of State for his definition of what we mean by a "connection" and for the other definitions he has included in his amendment.