James Bannon (Fine Gael)

This is a serious matter and we are all aware of the dangers of asbestos. Will the Minister of State give a guarantee that the mains water piping installed in the past throughout the country will not pose a risk to human health? I would like clarity on the issue because communities are concerned that some mains which were put in place in the 1960s and early 1970s included asbestos piping which can cause serious damage to people's health. There is an onus on the Minister of State and the Government to ensure anything that might pose a health risk is removed forthwith, no matter what the cost. There is an onus on the Government to ensure the use of asbestos piping to distribute water throughout the country, including our towns and villages, is discontinued.