Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

We all expressed concern earlier this week about how we might mitigate the impact of global warming. We must also pay some attention to mitigating the impact of such global warming as will happen in any case. Last summer's so-called drought led to significant and still ongoing water supply problems in high-lying areas. We would be outraged if there were power cuts every day, often lasting several hours, in various areas throughout the State. That is what is happening in regard to water supply, which is a basic need of life.

I am aware that the various local authorities are working hard on the problem. I refer not only to group water schemes but also public water supply. We must raise this issue up the national political agenda. People ought to have the same right to uninterrupted water supply as they have to uninterrupted electricity or gas provision, telephone lines and so on.